TNAG-1289-FCO40-1641-Terminology-for-the-description-of-Hong-Kong-by-internationa-1984 — Page 98

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FM HONG KONG 3OC85OZ NOV 84

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TO IMMEDIAT

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INDEX

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 3661 OF 30 NOVEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

152)

YOUR TELNO 2352: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES: NOTES

FOR SUPPLEMENTATIES.

WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE NOTES. (SUB-PARA NUMBERS

FOLLOW THOSE IN PARA 3 OF YOUR TUR.)

(5) THIS PARAGRAPH MAKES IT LOOK AS THOUGH THE ASSOCIATION DECIDED

CONSCIOUSLY TO REJECT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. TO REFLECT THE POSITION

MORE ACCURATELY WE SUGGEST ADDING THE FOLLOWING AFTER THE FIRST

SENTENCE : ''THOSE PRESENT COULD NOT REACH A CONSENSUS ON A MOTION SUPPORTING RATIFICATION OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. WE ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE WORD ''ONLY'' SHOULD BE DELETED IN THE FIRST SENTENCE,

AND THAT THE THIRD AND FOURTH SENTENCES SHOULD BE OMITTED.

,

(9) WE SUGGEST: NO EVIDENCE OF UPSURGE IN NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS

FOR EMIGRATION SINCE PUBLICATION OF DRAFT AGREEMENT. NUMBERS OF

HONG KONG PEOPLE EMIGRATING TO OTHER PLACES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS

HAVE REMAINED FAIRLY STEADY.''

(10) THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOULD BE REDRAFTED AS FOLLOWS: AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR THE FUTURE HONG KONG SAR TO ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY, EXCEPT IN FOREIGN AND DEFENCE AFFAIRS, AND FOR THERE TO BE AN ELECTED LEGISLATURE COMPOSED OF LOCAL INHABITANTS''. THE SECOND SENTENCE SHOULD READ ''.... FOR CONSIDERATION BY BRITISH AND

HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF VIEWS OF PEOPLE OF HONG

KONG''.

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(13) WE SUGGEST : ''HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS URGENTLY EXAMINING PROPOSALS FOR ENACTING NEW LEGISLATION IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE,

AND FOR TRANSLATING EXISTING LEGISLATION. THE TASK IS BY NO MEANS SIMPLE AND NEEDS MUCH PLANNING, INCLUDING PROVISION OF SPECIALIST

TRAINING TO TRANSLATORS.'

(14) WE SUGGEST : ''UK AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS FULLY AWARE OF NEED TO HAVE SYSTEM OF SELF-CONTAINED LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG BEFORE 1997. PREPARATORY WORK IS ALREADY IN HAND WITH A VIEW TO LOCALISING THOSE UK LAWS CURRENTLY EXTENDED TO HONG KONG BY ORDERS

IN COUNCIL. THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE.''

(17) WE SUGGEST : ''AGREEMENT ENSURES. CONTINUITY OF EMPLOYMENT

FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND SAFEGUARDS THEIR TERMS AND CONDIT- IONS OF SERVICE. ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT SHOWS THAT THESE PROVISIONS ARE GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE TO THOSE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. (IF PRESSED: EXISTING PENSIONS ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR EARLY RETIREMENT

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