L
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100207 MDLIAN 4493
UN BE FORMED TO SUPERVISE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BL AFTER 1997. THE OBJECT WAS TO PRECLUDE CHINA'S TELLING THE WORLD AFTER 1997 THAT HONG KONG WAS PURELY AN INTERNAL CHINESE AFFAIR.
BILL OF RIGHTS
10. SEVERAL SPEAKERS CALLED FOR A BILL OF RIGHTS TO BE ENACTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
VBPS
11. RITA FAN WELCOMED THE FAC'S SUPPORT FOR MANDATORY REPATRIATION OF VBPS SCREENED OUT AS ECONOMIC MIGRANTS. SHE AGREED WITH THE FAC THAT FINANCIAL AID SHOULD BE GIVEN BOTH TO THE REPATRIATED TO ASSIST WITH THEIR SOCIAL RE-INTEGRATION AND TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE RETURNEES WOULD BE DEALT WITH HUMANELY. SHE AND ALLEN LEE STRESSED THE URGENT NEED TO IMPLEMENT REPATRIATION OF LARGE NUMBERS OF VBPS TO REVERSE THE CURRENT FLOW OF ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG.
CONCLUSION
12. SEVERAL COUNCILLORS EXPRESSED APPRECIATION OF THE FAC RECOMMENDATIONS ON SPEEDIER DEMOCRATIC REFORM, ENACTMENT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS, BASIC LAW ISSUES AND VBP. NEVERTHELESS, THERE WAS A CLEAR PERCEPTION THAT THE POSITIVE ELEMENTS OF THE REPORT WERE BEING PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT AND THE BRITISH PUBLIC AS A PACKAGE WHICH DISCHARGED HMG'S OBLIGATIONS TO HONG KONG. MEMBERS ARGUED STRONGLY THAT, WITHOUT AN ACCEPTABLE GUARANTEE ON NATIONALITY AND RIGHT OF ABODE, THE PACKAGE WAS COMPLETELY INADEQUATE.
13. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S REPLY TO THE DEBATE IN OUR TELNO 2229.
WILSON
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