TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 124

(3) EDUCATION.

SECRET

THERE WERE CALLS FOR THE SETTING UP OF A FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOPING A HONG KONG SYSTEM OF EXAMINATION AND TO MONITORING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. THEY URGED THAT HONG KONG QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION BY BRITISH COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES SO HONG KONG STUDENTS WOULD NOT SEE THE NEED TO RESORT TO STUDY OVERSEAS. THIS COULD CHECK BRAIN DRAIN.

(4) TROOPS.

THERE WAS CONSISTENT CONCERN ON THE QUESTION OF THE STATIONING OF CHINESE TROOOT IN HONG KONG. THERE WAS ALSO A NEW SUGGESTION THAT PROPERTIES HELD BY THE BRITISH FORCES IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE SOLD AND PROCEEDS USED TO DEFRAY MILITARY EXPENSES INCURPED BY

HONG KONG BEFORE 1997.

(5) LAW AND ORDER.

THERE WAS CONCERN ON THE QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION, CONTROL OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THERE WAS A CONTINUED CALL FOR THE RETENTION OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.

(6) LAND.

THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS THAT ANY PORTION OF THE 50 HECTARES' OF LAND WHICH COULD NOT BE SOLD IN A CERTAIN YEAR SHOULD BE CARRIED

FORWARD TO THE ENSUING YEAR.

THERE WAS ALSO A CALL FOR THE QUESTION OF THE OWNERSHIP OF LAND IN KOWLOON WALLED CITY TO BE REFERRED TO THE LAND COMMISSION FOR

CONSIDERATION.

(7) PUBLIC SERVICE.

VIEWS WERE EXPRESSED THAT NON-CHINESE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE REGARDED AS HONG KONG PEOPLE AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSUME

SENIOR POSTS AT THE SECRETARY LEVEL.

(8) PASSPORTS, TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, NATIONALITY.

SOME EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT CHINA DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE STATUS OF HOLDERS OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY PASSPORTS TO CHINESE NATIONALS AND URGED THAT CHINA SHOULD GRANT DUAL NATIONALITY. THERE WAS CONTINUED CONCERN ABOUT NATIONALITY OF NON-CHINESE BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS.

(9) JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

SOME URGED THE TRAINING OF LEGAL EXPERTS TO BE PROFICIENT IN CHINESE SHOULD BE STEPPED UP DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

(10) FINANCIAL/MONETARY SYSTEM.

ONE ASKED WHETHER THE PROVISIONAL SALARIES TAX FOR THE YEAR 1997-98 WOULD GO TO THE HONG KONG SAR GOVERNMENT. THERE WAS CONCERN ON THE POSITION OF THE PESERVE FUND AND HOW THE SAF GOVERNMENT COULD STABILIZE THE VALUE OF HONG KONG CURRENCY.

SECRET

/ (11)