TNAG-2158-FCO40-3078-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-Chinese-views-1990 — Page 73

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under FOI exemption 27(1)

CONFIDENTIAL

077017 MOHIAN 1895

MAKE CLEAR THAT BRITISH AND OTHER FOREIGN NATIONALS MAY BE EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AFTER 1997, BUT THAT THEY SHALL BE EMPLOYED IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES AND, LIKE OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS, SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE SAR GOVERNMENT. THE JOINT DECLARATION ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT SUCH PERSONS MAY SERVE AT ALL LEVELS EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN VERY SENIOR POSTS WHICH WILL BE OPEN ONLY TO CHINESE NATIONALS.

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6. THE DECISION BY HMG HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THESE STATEMENTS BY THE CHINESE SIDE, AND PARTICULARLY THE VERY IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN DENG. WE TOO HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE CONCEPT THAT HE EMPHASISED OF ''HONG KONG PEOPLE ADMINISTERING HONG KONG''. THE RECIPIENTS OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THIS SCHEME WILL REMAIN IN EVERY SENSE 'HONG KONG PEOPLE''. BY THEIR DECISION TO REMAIN IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE HONG KONG SAR AFTER 1997 THEY WILL VISIBLY DEMONSTRATE THEIR SUPPORT FOR CHINA'S RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY. AT THE SAME TIME THEY WILL BE COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING THE SAR'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AND WILL INEVITABLY BE RESPONSIBLE AND LOYAL TO THE HONG KONG SARG WHICH WILL HAVE HK'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AS ITS AIM. WE WISH TO ENCOURAGE AS MANY HK PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IN THE PUBLIC AND THE

• PRIVATE SECTORS TO DISPEL THEIR DOUBTS AND UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT 1997, AND CONTINUE TO SERVE HK ON THIS BASIS. WE HOPE THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE THE CHINESE SIDE SHARE.

ENDS

WILSON

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