DISMISS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO CONSIDER WHETHER THIS WOULD CONTRAVENE THE JOINT DECLARATION. SINCE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, HE SHOULD NOT BE REMOVABLE BY THE SAR LEGISLATURE EVEN IF A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED WITH A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY. SHAO TIANREN WAS ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE SAID ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE CHOSEN BEFORE 1 JULY 1997 TO ENSURE THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL VACUUM DURING THE CHANGEOVER.
8. N PUBLIC, LU TOOK A NON-COMMITTAL STAND AS REGARDS DIRECT ELECTIONS. IN PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS WITH HKG OFFICIALS, HOWEVER, HE COMMENTED THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD GIVE RISE TO POLITICAL PARTIES. HE SAND THAT HE PREFERRED FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCHES AND WOULD BE IN FAVOUR OF INCREASING THEIR NUMBER OF SEATS. IN A PRIVATE MEETHING WITH MARINA TAM, HE APPEARED TO AGREE THAT INDIRECT ELECTIONS HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND WE SHOULD BUILD ON THEM.
(E) NATIONALITY AND TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
9. IN TALKING TO THE PRESS, LU SAID THAT CHINESE RESIDENTS OF THE HK SAR WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HOLD ONLY ONE PASSPORT, .E. THE HK SAR PASSPORT. BUT THEY COULD ALSO HOLD BN (0) PASSPORTS AND CHS, WHICH WERE REGARDED BY CHINA AS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ONLY. HOLDERS OF OTHER FOREIGN PASSPORTS WOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO THE SAR PASSPORT. HK PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE TO USE CIS TO ENSURE CONVENIENCE OF TRAVEL TO COUNTRIES WHICH DID NOT RECOGNISE CHINESE PASSPORTS. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE VISA ABOLITION ARRANGEMENTS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES FOR THE SAR RESIDENTS BEFORE 1997.
(F) RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
10. LU WAS QUOTED BY SEVERAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS AS SAYING THAT HK PEOPLE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES AND WOULD BE GRANTED THE FREEDOM TO RUN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE FUTURE SAP GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY SEPVICES RUN BY RELIGIOUS BODIES.
THE HK CATHOLIC DIOCESE WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS CONTACTS
WITH THE VATICAN.
11. LU WAS WIDELY REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES THAT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ENJOYED IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997, PROVIDED THAT CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE TERRITORY WAS NOT VIOLATED.
(G) JOINT LIAISON GROUP
3
CONFIDENTIAL
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