TNAG-2507-FCO40-3648-Official-visits-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 95

- 13

Feb 15 : Press interview

31.

The civil service system was very important to the

effective operation of the HKG and the development of the

Hong Kong economy.

He wished to see the maintainence of

the civil service system and hoped that civil servants

would stay beyond 1997 to serve the future SARG.

32.

There should be convergence in the appraisal and

promotion of civil servants before and after 1997. He

added that promotion was a matter for the SARG.

33.

deputy

nationals

The Basic Law stipulated that all secretaries and

secretaries* of the HKSARG should be Chinese

amongst permanent residents of Hong Kong who had

no right of abode in foreign countries. The Chinese

Government appreciated that civil servants would have their

own consideration in applying for British citizenship. The

Chinese Government was opposed to the British Government

for launching the British Nationality Scheme but the

Chinese Government had no grudges against the civil

servants themselves. Those who had right of abode in the

U.K. should not be subject to political discrimination and they could serve in posts below the senior cfficial()

ranks stipulated in the Basic Law, including posts in the

disciplinary service.

If they wanted tc be senior simply give up their right of abode

officials, they could

in the U.K..

(*

see footnote on page 11)