ME 2AG F
HONG KONG NATIONALITY WHITE PAPER: DEBATE ON THE ADJOURNMENT
DRAFT OPENING SPEECH (COMMON S)
1.
the
The White Paper which is before the House today sets ou t
Government's proposals for implementing the nationality provisions of the Hong Kong Act 1985. With the White Paper is the draft of an
Order in Council which would enact these provision
on s and which,
subject to what is said in this debate, we would hope to lay
formally before the House before Easter.
2.
The Government believes that the nationality provisions in the
White Paper are fair and comprehensive. They are intended to
establish clearly the future citizenship of British Dependent
Territories citizens in Hong Kong once Hong Kong ceases to be a
dependent territory on 1 July 1997. We are introducing them in very
good time to prevent uncertainty and to ensure that both the people
in Hong Kong and third countries have an
the new passport.
opportunity to get used to
On ce the Order is made there will be much
detailed work still to do. But the foundation will have been laid
and we believe it will provide a stable basis on which the people of
Hong Kong can plan their future with confidence.
3.
These nationality provision s arise
directly out of the
Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong and its associated
exchange of memoranda on nationality. Hon members will recall that
the House debated and approved the Government's in tention to sign
after the people of Hong Kong
express their views, and the
Following that
the
found
it acceptable.
agreement just over a year ago,
had been given an opportunity to
overwhelming majority h ad
debate, my rt hon Friend
the agreement.
the Prime Minister went to Peking to sign
(1)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.