TNAG-1817-FCO40-2578-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 206

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Summary Translation of Press Cutting from Ta Kung Pao dated 15 April 1988

Author: TONG Yuk-hon

Title: Not a Question of Racism

1

give

to

The author reiterated that the Government must

good reasons very

the explain why

existing nationality requirements for the control of TV stations should be

be removed, stressing that many

that many other countries have similar nationality requirements.

2.

The author also made the following points

...

(a) "Nationality" is a concept very different from that of "ethnicity". To have a nationality requirement in TV licence legislation is not racism.

the

existing

Despite

nationality requirements in the TV licence legislation, a lot of "British nationals" who are owning or controlling the management of TV stations are in fact ethnically Chinese. They would probably become Chinese nationals after 1997 since the Chinese has accepted that all Hong Kong Chinese compatriots are Chinese nationals. The smooth running of TV stations would therefore not be disrupted even if nationality requirements (Chinese nationality) were to exist after 1997.

is

(b) In the transfer of sovereignty, nationality

subject a

that would inevitably be discussed but it should not be confused with "right of abode".

(c) Hong Kong's status as an international city has not been affected by the fact that we are having nationality requirements in our existing TV licence legislation. The author implied that Hong Kong's status would not be affected if nationality requirements (Chinese nationality) were to exist after 1997.

(d)

On political rights of foreigners, the author argued that non-British nationals in Hong Kong at present do not feel that they are politically under-privileged and therefore non-Chinese nationals should

naturally not have such a feeling after 1997.

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