XN000022-1996-12-03 — Page 4

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Governor: No, Mr Tung has his own flat to which I am sure he and his wife Betty are very attached. All of us are attached to the places that we live in. I think he said he had not made up his mind and I am sure he will want to do that, if he is selected, shortly after his selection.

Obviously, we would like the staff concerned to know what their future is. That main consideration. I am bound to say I have never felt that Government House was particularly cramped - but there it is.

is

my

Question: Governor, right now there are around 50,000 Hong Kong people who have the right of abode in Britain, but after 1997 those people will not have protection by British Consulates.

Governor: I beg your pardon?

Question: So there are 50,000 people who have the right of abode in Britain.

Governor: Yes, there are about 150,000/160,000 people who will have British passports under the British Nationality Scheme. They are just like any other passport and I hope they will get exactly the same protection around the world as other British passport holders would get.

Question: Against the issue, you know, how are things are sent to help SAR and Chief Executive Designate?

Governor: There is no...

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for those civil servants who

Question: For example, now they are against the Provisional Council but all ... Chief Executive Designate, they have to provide the information may be for the Provisional Council. In a way they are in support of the British.

Governor: It will be for the Chief Executive designate to explain and justify the facilities that he requires and the way he uses them. It is not a matter for me. What I am pledged to do is to help him as much as possible within of course the terms of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. I am sure he would not want me to do other than that.

As you know, the Government has made its position absolutely plain on the so- called Provisional Legislature which in our judgement and in the Foreign Secretary's words would be reprehensible and unjustifiable.

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