WAYAIP(2)
BACKGROUND
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(a) Joint Declaration
1. It would be helpful to put across our firm belief that work on
both implementation of the Joint Declaration and the drafting of
the Basic Law is proceeding well, contrary to the negative
impressions created by many commentators in the media (including the
Wall Street Journal).
2.
Good progress has been made in implementing the Joint
Declaration through the work of the Joint Liaison Group, eg on
maintaining Hong Kong's links with international organisations; on
passports and travel documents for Hong Kong people; on a new
pension scheme for the Hong Kong civil service; and on separate air
services agreements for Hong Kong, etc. But much is still to be
done, eg on the requirements for the future PLA garrison and on localisation in Hong Kong law of UK statutes applied to Hong Kong.
(b) Basic Law
3. On the Basic Law, a revised draft is shortly to be considered by
the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress
before it is published for a second round of consultation in Hong
Kong. Many amendments have been made to the first draft which go a
long way towards meeting many of the concerns expressed in Hong Kong
about the first draft. However, there remains considerable
disagreement over the provisions on the future political structure. We have so far refrained from commenting publicly on this aspect other than to express the hope that a consensus will emerge.
(c) Vietnamese boat people
4.
There are now some 25,000 Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong, of whom some 15,000 have refugee status. 783 Vietnamese boat people
have been screened out, and 70 screened in as refugees.
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