UNCLASSIFIED
157767
MDLIAN 2089
OFFICIALS HAD STRESSED THAT THE CHINESE SIDE REMAINED OPPOSED TO THE PACKAGE AND THAT ACCORDING TO THE BL, KEY POSTS IN THE SAR GOVERNMENT WOULD BE FILLED BY LOCAL PEOPLE WITHOUT THE RIGHT OF ABODE OVERSEAS. THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS REPORTED THAT SENIOR EXCO MEMBER BARONESS DUNN SAID THAT SHE FELT IT MIGHT BE A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT THE CHINESE SIDE DID NOT WISH SENIOR GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVANTS TO APPLY FOR THE RIGHT OF ABODE UNDER THE SCHEME.
U.S.
13. MANY PAPERS SAID THAT PRESIDENT BUSH HAD FORMALLY SIGNED AN IMMIGRATION BILL WHICH PROVIDED A SAFETY NET FOR HONG KONG.
JAPAN
14. JAPAN HAD SHUNNED A PLEA TO INTRODUCE A NATIONALITY PACKAGE FOR HK RESIDENTS DESPITE HUGE INVESTMENTS IN THE TERRITORY AND A STRONG INTEREST IN ITS FUTURE SHOWN DURING THE VISIT OF THE HK GOVERNOR TO THE COUNTRY.
PALAU
15. WAH KIU YAT PO REPORTED THAT PALAU WELCOMED MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE TO EMIGRATE THERE AND HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THE ONLY PREREQUISITE FOR A PASSPORT WAS THAT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OF US DOLLARS 100,000 BE OPENED AT THE COUNTRY'S BANK.
PADS
16. FINANCIAL SECRETARY SIR PIERS JACOBS WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT IT MIGHT MEET HK'S NEEDS IF THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED BONDS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS.
17. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTED BY MING PAO AND WEN WEI PO AS REFUTING A PRESS REPORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO SPEND DOLLARS 22.4 BILLION IN 1991-1992 ON THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT AND RELATED PROJECTS. HE SAID THAT THE ORDER OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE WAS LIKELY TO BE IN THE REGION OF DOLLARS 2 BILLION. THE HK ECONOMIC TIMES REPORTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD PASSED ON DATA ON THE ESTIMATED COSTS AND FUND APPROPRIATION SCHEDULES CONCERNING SIX CORE ITEMS OF PADS TO LEGCO MEMBERS FOR THEIR SCRUTINY AND THAT THESE ITEMS, TOGETHER WITH THE CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT AND LANTAU ISLAND RAIL LINK, WERE TO COST A TOTAL OF DOLLARS 78 BILLION. MEDIA REPORTS NOTED THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE HAD APPROVED DOLLARS 3.34 BILLION FOR WORK ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION PROJECT BUT REFUSED TO COMMIT DOLLARS 25 MILLION FOR FURTHER CONSULTANTS TO BE COMMISSIONED ON PADS. THE
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