BILL
4.
May be helpful if I run through Bill quickly:
Clause
central provision of Bill. Provides for termination of
sovereignty and jursidiction from 1 July 1997.
Clause Two purely technical (short title and scope of schedule).
Nationality
5.
Paragraph two of Schedule on nationality aroused most interest
in Second Reading. Like to make a number of points:
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-
to
Nationality provisions must be in the Bill. То remove them would
cause uncertainty. in Hong Kong. But equally not possible
finalise nationality provisions in time to legislate definitively
in the Bill. Thus proposed Order-in-Council procedure.
Exchange of Memoranda: Need to keep closely to terms of UK
Although not part of agreement represents a
Memorandum.
comm mitment by HMG.
Government not doing too much: No question of allowing a flood
of immigration from Hong Kong.
No changes on right of
abode. Simply creating a new form of nationality, with benefits
similar to BDTC, but with new title. Latter essential to me et
Chinese sensitivities.
New Title: Initial reaction to new title in Hong Kong encouraging.
Difficult exercise to find title acceptable to all concerned.
[Defensive] May be possible to include
include amendment giving new title
at Committee stage.
Bill contains clear indication of Government's intentions with
regard to nationality. Order in Council will:
(a) make provision for removal of Hong Kong from list of Dependent
Territories in Schedule 6 of BNA 1981 and for the acquisition of a
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