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I. CHINA'S POLICY ON OVERSEAS CHINESE
Press Comments
Some local newspapers (January 4) reported that a conference had been held in Peking recently to discuss Overseas Chinese affairs. They also reported on an article in the People's Daily by a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Mr. Liao Cheng-chih, on China's policy on Overseas Chinese.
The Communist TA KUNG PAO (English edition January 5 - 12) said the conference had pointed out that success in the administration of Overseas Chinese affairs was of "positive significance for mobilizing the initiative both at home and abroad".
The conference had defined guidelines concerning the treatement of Overseas Chinese and some of these were to ensure that they were given equal treatment; to look after well those Overseas Chinese who came back to visit their relatives; to protect their legitimate rights and interests; and to restore schools for returned Overseas Chinese students.
The paper also commented on Mr. Liao Cheng-chih's article and said it explained the guidelines and policies to be adopted towards Overseas Chinese affairs.
The HONGKONG STANDARD (January 5) commented on Mr. Liao's article and said "Chinese authorities will simplify procedures for Overseas Chinese and their families in China to get permission to enter or leave for the purposes of family reunions”.
It quoted him as saying that there should not be discrimination against the Overseas Chinese and that China would welcome Overseas Chinese who wished
to return to their native land.
The paper quoted Mr. Liao's article further and gave extracts from it.
The SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST on the same day reported also on Mr. Liao's article and said that from 1959 to 1967, Mr. Liao Cheng-chih was the Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission.
It said "The advice that they (Overseas Chinese) should assimilate themselves into the societies in which they live was seen as reassuring other countries, particularly Southeast Asian nations, of China's good intentions".
The paper said that some Overseas Chinese visitors to China had commented on the "ease with which they have been granted visas and the freedom to travel and stay in relatives' homes instead of special hotels".
MING PAO (January 6) said it had received information from a reader that China was to set up a Ministry of Overseas Chinese Affairs and that Mr. Liao Cheng-chih was to be its head.
The paper said since Mr. Liao's position in the CCP was "higher than a Government Minister, his new appointment reflected the importance attached to Overseas Chinese affairs" but Hong Kong and Macau residents were not considered as Overseas Chinese and so they would be treated separately.
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