HAB 011/6
-RY
REG
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Fice
119
PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME
10 JUNE
HONG KONG
Welcome talks with
China on Hong Kong electoral issues. They are progressing in a businesslike atmosphere. A fifth round due to take place on 14-16 June.
Our aim is to reach an understanding with China on arrangements to ensure that the 1995 elections will be fair,
open and acceptable to Hong Kong people.
- If we do reach an
understanding, the British and Hong Kong Governments will recommend this to the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. It will be for them to pass the necessary legislation.
(Defensive: Will talks delay legislation?)
Governor and his Executive Council will take decisions on putting the legislation to LegCo in the light of progress in the talks.
We need to make good progress, so that legislation will be in place in time for the District Board elections in 1994.
HONG KONG NATIONALITY LEGCO DELEGATION
Foreign Office and Home Office Ministers are seeing Legco delegation.
(Defensive: Will Government withdraw the programme for phased registration of applicants for status of Britishˆ Nationals Overseas?)
- It would be irresponsible not to take steps to ensure that
practical arrangements are made to discharge efficiently our responsibility to applicants for BN(O) status and passport.
Programme will guarantee that all British Dependent Territory citizens who want to apply will receive BNO passports 'before 1 July 1997.
(Defensive: Will Government give British citizenship to the ethnic minorities who after 1997 will have solely British nationality?)
Parliament specifically considered the position of this community during the passage of the British Nationality Hong Kong Act 1990. It was decided after full consideration that there was no case for special treatment and that the interests of the community were adequately safeguarded by arrangements already in place.
VISIT OF
15ap.pm.PR
SLM
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