TNAG-1386-FCO40-1834-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 194

26. UNDER THE NORMAL AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE FOR MAKING AN ORDER IN COUNCIL, I.E. WHEN PARLIAMENT IS INVITED TO APPROVE IT BY AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION, IT 10 NOT POSSIBLE TO MAK

AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT ORDER. THE HOUSE WOULD VOTE ON THE DRAFT

ORDER PRESENTED, AND COULD ADOPT OR REJECT IT IN ITS ENTIRETY. BUT

THE PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED IN THE CASE OF THE HONG KONG (3RITISH

NATIONALITY) ORDER WILL BE QUITE SIFFERENT. VOTING UNDER THE

AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE WILL BE PRECEDED BY PRELIMINARY

DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT.

WHEN IS THE DRAFT ORDER LIKELY TO BE DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT↑

27. THE PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA FOR 1985/86 IS NOT YET DETERMINED. BUT

FIRST DEBATES ARE LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR,

FOLLOWED BY CONSIDERATION OF VIEWS EXPRESSED AND FINAL DEBATES

UNDER THE AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE PROBABLY IN FEBRUARY

OR MARCH NEXT YEAR.

IS LEGCO GOING TO DEBATE THE DRAFT ORDER?

28. THIS IS A MATTER FOR LEGCO. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE MOST LIKELY

TO SEE A DEBATE ON IT.

CAN DISTRICT BOARDS DEBATE THE DRAFT ORDER?

29. THIS A MATTER FOR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT BOARDS. IF THEY DO WISH TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT ORDER, SECURITY BRANCH WILL MAKE SURE THAT SUBJECT OFFICERS ARE AVAILABLE TO EXPLAIN PROVISIONS AND TO ANSWER

QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.

WILL THE GOVERNMENT.SET UP A SPECIAL OFFICE TO COLLATE AND ASSESS

PUBLIC OPINION?

30. NO SPECIAL OFFICE WILL BE SET UP BUT BOTH SECURITY BRANCH AND THE NATIONALITY SECTION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATELY RE-INFORCED TO DEAL WITH THE COLLATION OF PUBLIC OPINION. IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY QUERIES, THEY ARE WELCOME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SUBJECT OFFICERS IN SECURITY BRANCH (5-95296 AND 5-951893) OR THE NATIONALITY SECTION OF IMMIGRATION

DEPARTMENT (3-7328503).

WHAT ARE THE PRIVILEGES AND LIABILITIES OF COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS?

31. COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS MAY BE PRIVY COUNCILLORS OR MY BE ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT, MAY SERVE AS MEMBERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES, AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS AND

FELLOWSHIP PLAN AND FOR THE AWARD OF HONOURS ETC. LIABILITIES INCLUDE JURY SERVICE, AND EXTRADITION ETC.

HAVE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT BEEN CONSULTED ON THE DRAFT ORDER?

5

CONFIDENMAL

/32.