TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 137

(1) PASSPORTS, TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

THERE WAS CONSISTENT CONCERN, IN PARTICULAR FROM SUBMISSIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, ON THE QUESTION OF PASSPORT AND NATIONALITY. SOME EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE STATUS OF THE NON-CHINESE, WHO MIGHT NOT WANT TO BE CHINESE NATIONAL, MIGHT BECOME STATELESS. OTHERS FELT THAT THE TWO TYPES OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS E.G. THE NEW STYLE BRITISH PASSPORT AND THE HKSAR PASSPORT WOULD BE DIVISIVE. OTHERS CONSIDERED THAT ALL CI HOLDERS SHOULD BE GRANTED THE NEW

BRITISH PASSPORTS AND TREATED THE SAME AS BDTC'S. THERE WAS CALL FOR EARLY RESOLUTION OF THE MATTER AND THAT THE PASSPORT SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO CIRCULATION WELL BEFORE 1997. A LARGE NUMBER OF WRITERS, WHO ARE BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS, WROTE TO SAY THAT BRITAIN SHOULD HONOUR A MORAL OBLIGATION TOWARDS THEM BY ASSISTING

THEM TO RESETTLE ELSEWHERE.

(2) CHIEF EXECUTIVE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE ELECTED: BEIJING SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN THE POWER TO VETO AND THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT BY BEIJING SHOULD BE A FORMALITY ONLY. THERE WAS A CALL FOR SPELLING OUT IN THE BASIC LAW THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TO AVOID SPLIT LOYALTY TO THE LEGISLATURE AND TO THE PRC.

(3) BASIC LAW

WHEN COMPARED WITH LAST WEEK, MORE PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN IN TO SUGGEST THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CONSULTED AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW. THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN COMMITTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR DRAFTING, THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE SHOULD BE COMMISSIONED TO CANVASS PUBLIC OPINION ON THE BASIC LAW.

(4) TROOPS

MORE DEMANDED STRICT DISCIPLINE OF PLA IF STATIONED IN HONG KONG, AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE ISOLATED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SUBJECT TO HKSAR LAWS. THERE WAS STILL FEAR OF CONSCRIPTION. THERE WAS ALSO A SUGGESTION THAT THE HONG KONG REGIMENT COULD PLAY A PART IN THE HKSAR DIVISION OF THE PLA.

(5) EDUCATION

IDEOLOGICAL INDOCTRINATION SHOULD BE PROHIBITED AND CIVIC EDUCATION BE PROMOTED TO ENHANCE POLITICAL AWARENESS. IN THIS RESPECT, THERE WAS A CALL FOR REVAMPING THE COLONIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM. HOWEVER, TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL STATUS, THE USE OF ENGLISH SHOULD BE GIVEN EQUAL STATUS TO CHINESE.

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