TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 138

(6) LAND

SECRET

GENERALLY WELCOMED, IN PARTICULAR, THOSE FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES. MANY QUERIED THE STATUS OF THE 999 YEAR LEASE, AND THE STATUS OF SMALL HOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AFTER 1997. SOME CRITICISED THE 1150 HECTARES' AS TOO LIMITING. THIS LIMITATION MIGHT LEAD TO HIGHER LAND PRICES AND TO CONTROLLED ECONOMY. IT WAS ALSO

SUGGESTED THAT THE REDUCED REVENUE FROM LAND SALES MIGHT MEAN

HIGHER TAXES.

(7) PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

SOME ASKED THAT HONG KONG SHOULD SET UP ITS OWN AUTHORITY TO ACCREDIT QUALIFICATIONS TO PROFESSIONALS FROM NON-COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WAS A FEAR THAT STANDARDS MIGHT BE LOWERED BY THE RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONALS COMING FROM

CHINA.

(8) JOINT LIAISON GROUP

THE GROUP SHOULD INCLUDE HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES TO MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. A FEW INDIVIDUALS CALLED FOR THE GROUP TO CONTINUE ITS WORK BEYOND THE YEAR 2000.

(9) FISHING INDUSTRY

THERE WAS A COMPLAINT FROM THE FISHERMEN SOCIETY OF HONG KONG LTD. THAT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IGNORED THE POSITION OF HONG KONG FISHERMEN AND HKSAR FISHING RIGHTS AND BOUNDARIES.

ENDS.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HD HKD HD FED

PS

PS/ MR LUCE PS/pus MR BOYD

3

SECRET

COPIES TO

MR WALKER RESD

SIR J FREELAND, LEGAL ADVISERS

SIR ? CRADOCK (2)