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UNCLASSIFIED
051077 MDLIAN 7543
BASIC LAW THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE TWO INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN IN FORCE AFTER 1997, TVB AND SOME PAPERS (26.4) REPORTED. LIU SAID THAT THE HKG SHOULD NOT ENACT A BILL OF RIGHTS IN A HURRY, ADDING THAT SHE WAS WORRIED THAT SUCH A BILL MIGHT BE SUPERIOR TO THE BASIC LAW.
NATIONALITY
10. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY, LI JINHUA, REITERATED CHINA'S OPPOSITION TO THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE MEDIA (27.4) REPORTED IN GOOD COVERAGE. CHINA HAD ALREADY MADE CLEAR ITS SOLEMN STAND ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD ADOPT CORRESPONDING MEASURES IN RELATION TO THE PACKAGE. SHE SAID THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF A NATIONALITY PACKAGE WAS A MOVE TO CHANGE HONG KONG PEOPLE'S NATIONALITY, ADDING THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT IGNORE IT. IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO UNILATERALLY DRAFT AND ANNOUNCE A BILL OF RIGHTS IN HONG KONG WITHOUT CONSULTING THE CHINESE. SHE SAID THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BY BOTH SIDES AT THE JLG AND THAT THE CHINESE SIDE RESERVED THE RIGHT TO RESPOND TO IT.
11. MANY PAPERS (27.4), QUOTING A REUTERS DISPATCH, IN WHICH A SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIAL WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT PEKING REGARDED THE ISSUE AS A MATTER OF SOVEREIGNTY. HE WARNED THAT SHOULD THE CHINESE SIDE BE FORCED TO TAKE ACTION TO PRESERVE CHINA'S SOVEREIGN RIGHTS OVER HONG KONG, THEY WOULD DO SO, EVEN IF IT COST THEM A LOT OF MONEY. HE DID NOT THINK THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE SOLVED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE JLG, ADDING THAT IT MUST BE RESOLVED AT A MUCH MORE SENIOR LEVEL.
12. QUOTING BRUSSELS SOURCES, THE PAPERS (27.4) REPORTED THAT THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT HAD COME UP WITH A NATIONALITY SCHEME FOR HONG KONG UNDER WHICH THOSE HONG KONG PEOPLE WHO HAD LINKS WITH BELGIUM WOULD BE GRANTED RESIDENCY IN THE COUNTY WITHOUT BEING REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE TERRITORY FIRST. AN OFFICIAL OF THE BELGIAN CONSULATE IN
HONG KONG CONFIRMED THE REPORT WITH THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS.
OTHERS
13. THE EXPRESS (27.4) REPORTED EXCLUSIVELY IN AN INSIDE-PAGE LEAD THAT AS A MOVE TO AROUSE CHINA'S INTEREST IN THE PLANNED REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROJECT IN THE TERRITORY, THE GOVERNOR WAS NOW IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE NCNA HONG KONG DIRECTOR, ZHOU NAN. THE PAPER SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS QUITE HAPPY TO ARRANGE FOR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO BRIEF THE CHINESE SIDE FROM TIME TO TIME.
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