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China is still working on a draft Basic Law to govern Hong Kong after 1997, and the British Government is continuing to talk frankly with the Chinese about the type of law which will best serve the interests of the people of the territory. Recent Chinese press reports about possible amendments to the draft Basic Law have not marked any significant change in Peking's position. It is accepted in the Joint Declaration that a small number of senior government posts in Hong Kong would, after 1997, be reserved for Chinese nationals. What China is now talking about is the possible extension of that list to cover perhaps 50 or 60 jobs in the public
service.
As for consular protection, Britain will continue to offer full consular protection to full British citizens anywhere in the world. But the Joint Declaration recognised the peculiar position of Hong Kong people who hold a BDTC passport and have no right of abode in the United Kingdom. Under Chinese nationality law, these people will after 1997 be considered as full Chinese citizens, for China like many other countries does not recognise dual nationality. They therefore will not qualify for British consular protection unless they are travelling on their BDTC passports outside China and Hong Kong. There is nothing new about this.
Maintaining the prosperity and good government of Hong Kong is
But it our duty - perhaps our last major imperial responsibility. is also very much in this country's interests. Jobs in this country and the profitability of British firms depend upon Hong Kong continuing to thrive. It is our largest market in Asia after Japan, and about 1,000 British companies operate there. It is not just the important Hong Kong companies, but major British enterprises like GEC, Courtaulds and Cable & Wireless who have urged on us the need to provide the assurance of citizenship and a passport to key
employees.
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