TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 377

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MDLIAN 8892

SAID MEMBERS REGRETTED THAT CHINA HAD MADE SUCH COMMENTS AS THEY

WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL IN RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY. SHE

STRESSED THAT THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE WAS AIMED AT RESTORING

CONFIDENCE AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY AND THAT THIS WOULD BE

BENEFICIAL TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IN THE LONG TERM.

9. THE NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT HAD COME OUT TO ATTACK THE BRITISH

NATIONALITY PACKAGE FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE AND SAID THAT THE SCHEME WOULD AFFECT THE STABILITY OF OTHER COUNTRIES, THE MEDIA REPORTED. THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION HAD TOLD THE OMELCO SPECIAL GROUP ON NATIONALITY THAT IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE FIRST FULL BRITISH

PASSPORTS UNDER THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE WOULD BE ISSUED IN EARLY 1991, SING TAO JIH PAO AND WAH KIU YAT PO REPORTED. THE PAPERS SAID THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD SET UP A COMMITTEE TO HANDLE

APPLICATIONS.

10. THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OVERSEAS EDITION OF 'OUTLOOK' CARRIED A

LETTER FROM PEKING COMMENTING ON THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S CRITICISMS OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE, WEN WEI PO (9.1) REPORTED. THE PAPER SAID THAT THE LETTER QUOTED

OBSERVERS IN PEKING AS SAYING THAT THE SCHEME WAS AN ATTEMPT BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO PRESS CHINA TO GIVE IN. IT SAID THAT SUCH A

UNILATERAL MOVE BY BRITAIN HAD GONE AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.

NCNA HONG KONG DIRECTOR

11. THE LOCAL DIRECTOR OF THE NCNA, XU JIATUN, WOULD RETIRE BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE MEDIA (6.1) REPORTED. THE REPORTS, QUOTING SOURCES, SAID THAT THERE WERE TWO CANDIDATES FOR THE POST, GUANGDONG GOVERNOR YE XUANPING AND VICE-FOREIGN MINISTER ZHOU NAN.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

58

.HK AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HKD

DISTRIBUTION

68

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

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