TNAG-2190-FCO40-3127-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 48

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arrangements associated with the Joint Declaration. But in fact the Chinese position is identical where Macanese holders of Portuguese passports and Hong Kong holders of British passports are concerned. Such differences as there are between these two categories lie in the existing nationality legislation of Portugal and Britain. Portuguese passport holders in Macau have the right of abode in Portugal while BDTCs (and later BN (O)s) in Hong Kong do not have the right of abode in the UK. The Portuguese have hinted that they are considering amending their domestic legislation in view of the possibility of an influx of some 85,000 Macanese, who would also eventually have access to the EC as a whole on the same basis as metropolitan Portuguese. We have periodically reminded the Portuguese of our concern at the possibility of an influx of

Macanese.

7.

The

The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration will enter into force on the exchange of instruments of ratification. No target date was set in the Joint Declaration. Reports have suggested that on the Chinese side the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee will ratify the agreement in the second half of May. Portuguese are likely to take rather longer. A new Assembly is scheduled to be elected in July: once it has been constituted the agreement will have to go before it and then to the Portuguese President. The Embassy in Lisbon currently estimate that

ication is unlikely before October.

словит

1.

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

Ministers may wish to see this useful analysis, which brings out very clearly the extent to which the Macau Agreement was modelled on the Hong Kong Joint Declaration, in substance as well

as in form.

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12.