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different resting point. Selective granting of citizenship rights would be regarded as divisive in Hong Kong and could lead to pressure for other concessions. Interested to know what you think can be done about this problem.
Chinese attitude to any change in our nationality policy is another imponderable. Not clear whether we can take Zhou Nan's comments that this is internal matter for HMG entirely at face value. May have been a way of avoiding any direct comment on this issue. Chinese probably assume we will not change our policy anyway. Might react rather differently if any concrete plans actually materialised.
Representative Government
Hope you felt that Committee heard representative cross-section of views in Hong Kong, including moderates as well as liberals. Grateful that Committee put on record its rejection of Martin Lee's argument about 'broken promises'.
There is obviously some scope for bringing forward the timetable for democratic development after 1997. But have the Committee reached any views about the timetable before 1997? (The draft Basic Law currently envisages 27% direct elections to LegCo before 1997.)
Press reports suggest that Chinese have given green light to idea of early referendum on democratic development in Hong Kong. These reports appear to have been result of misunderstanding at press conference. Grateful if you could find opportunity to set record straight, perhaps at a future evidence session. Otherwise these reports will be repeated endlessly.
Human Rights
Note that Chinese confirmed they would have no objection to a Hong Kong Bill of Rights. This is not new: Chinese officials have already said so publicly. Did Chinese indicate whether they were considering accession to the two International Human Rights
Covenants?
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