TNAG-1610-FCO40-22132-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 258

8

The replacement of the terms "Hong Kong

belonger" and "Chinese resident" by a new expression

"Hong Kong permanent resident" removes a distinction,

which has been drawn on the basis of British

nationality, between two major categories of Hong

Kong residents. Subject to the enactment of this

legislation, all Hong Kong people who have the right

of abode in Hong Kong will be "Hong Kong

Kong permanent

residents' and will be entitled to a permanent

identity card. This change in nomenclature entails

certain consequential amendments το the principal

Ordinance and other legislation which are contained

in this Bill. But they will not involve any

significant change in substance. They are explained

in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill.

9

There is some way to go before provisions

relating to right of abode in the Joint Declaration

will be fully implemented. Her Majesty's Government

and the Government of the People's Republic of China

have agreed that the arrangements to be

to be introduced by

the proposed legislation are of a transitional nature

and are intended to meet the immediate objective of

including a right of abode

National (Overseas) passports

Identity to be issued from

legislative

proposals

will

endorsement in British

and Certificates of

1 July 1987. Further

be introduced before