TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 114

(2) LEGAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM

THERE WERE CALLS FOR THE TRANSLATION OF PRESENT LAWS INTO CHINESE AND THAT CHINESE SHOULD BE THE MAIN LANGUAGE TO BE USED IN THE COURTS IN STAGES. THERE WERE PERSISTENT CALLS FOR CLARIFICATION PARTICULARLY ON THE PROCEDURES FOR AMENDING THE BASIC LAW AND

ITS INTERPRETATION. THERE WERE RESERVATIONS TOWARDS THE RELIABILITY OF THE BASIC LAW AND ITS RELATIONASHIP WITH CHINESE CONSTITUTION. THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ON THE CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY FOR

GATHERING VIEWS ON THE DRAFT BASIC LAW.

(3) RIGHT OF ABODE, TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND IMMIGRATION

THERE WERE CALLS FOR THE HOLDERS OF BDTC PASSPORTS AND CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY TO BE GRANTED EQUAL TREATMENT. WITHOUT EQUAL STATUS, THE LOYALTY OF THOSE APPLYING FOR BDTC PASSPORTS AFTER 1997 WOULD BE SUSPECT BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. TO EASE THE MINDS OF THOSE WHO MIGHT CONTEMPLATE EMIGRATION, IT WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY FOR THE QUOTA ON THE IMMIGRATION OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS TO OVERSEAS COUNTRIES TO BE RETAINED AFTER

1997 EXCLUSIVELY FOR HONG KONG.

(4) PUBLIC SERVICE

THREE MAJOR POINTS EMERGED FROM THE LETTERS RECEIVED. FIRST, CIVIL SERVANTS WHO HAD SERVED FOR 15 YEARS AND REACHED 45 YEARS OLD SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPTION FOR EARLY RETIREMENT BY 1997 OR TO SERVE THE NEW GOVERNMENT. SECONDLY, A PROVIDENT FUND BE SET UP TO REPLACE THE PENSIONS SCHEME. THIRDLY, CIVIL SERVANTS SHOULD BE TRAINED IN CHINESE LANGUAGE AND SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS BE MADE FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE RENDERED REDUNDANT.

(5) WELFARE AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS

THERE WAS SUGGESTION FOR EARLY CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO PROVIDING RETIREMENT BENEFIT TO THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO RETIRE WITHOUT A PENSION, AND FOR MINIMUM BUT INDEX LINKED SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS TO BE PROVIDED TO ALL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. THE INTRODUCTION OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND WAS

MENTIONED.

(6) CONFIDENCE

THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPAND ITS PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME TO BOOST CONFIDENCE IN THE NEXT 13

YEARS.

(7) LAW AND ORDER AND DEFENCE

IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THE DEFINITION ON THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITES BETWEEN THE CHINESE TROOPS TO BE STATIONED IN HONG KONG AND THE HONG KONG POLICE WAS NOT CLEAR. THERE

WERE QUERIES WHETHER, DURING INTERNAL DISTURBANCE IN HONG KONG, THE CHINESE TROOPS WOULD ASSUME ANY ROLE.

SECRET -

св