China jibs at N.Z. citizen joining talks

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 17

China jibs at N.Z. citizen joining talks

By

DAVID PORTER.

NZPA staff correspondent

... „ , Hon g Kong A New Zealand citizen is at the centre of delicate negotiations between China and Britain.

The negotiations are to secure Hong Kong representation on the joint Liaison Group (J.L.G.), a group set up to ensure a smooth transfer of power after last year’s agreement over the territory’s future after 1997, reports in Hong Kong have said.

Peking has so far refused to allow the Secretary of Trade and Industry, Mr Eric Ho, a Hong Kong Chinese with both a local British Dependent Territory Citizen passport and New Zealand citizenship through his wife, he nominated to the group, which is widely expected to be influential during the transition.

The Sino-British joint Declaration under which China will recover sovereignty over Hong Kong is due to be ratified some time before June 30, officially marking the beginning of the transition period. Under the terms of the Declaration, the J.L.G., consisting of Chinese and British officials, will then come into being to oversee matters relating to the changeover.

Peking has specifically excluded Hong Kong people from serving on the group, but local unofficial (nonpublic servant) members of the British-appointed Executive and Legislative Councils (Umelco) have been demanding some say during the vital transition period.

The Chinese Government has held, throughout the negotiations leading to the agreement and since, that as Hong Kong' is part of

China the participation of local people in the talks is unnecessary and unacceptable.

They have maintained the same position over the J.L.G., whose members will have diplomatic status, say ing it would not be right for Chinese to conduct diplomatic relations with Chinese, the regional news magazine, “Far Eastern Economic Review,” reported.

Press reports in Hong Kong have quoted local pressure groups as saying they feared London and Peking would not fully look after the interests of Hong Kong people. Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting on May 1, an unofficial representative Cheung Yan-Lung, said there was suspsicion in the past because of British Government actions which removed the right of United Kingdom residence from local British passport holders in the colony. There were also suspicions during the talks over Hong Kong’s future that Britain was more concerned about good relations with China than the fate of the 5.2 million locals.

“The same suspicion will arise again if there is no local participation in the joint Liaison Group. The result will be serious damage to the confidence that has returned (to Hong Kong after the uncertainty during the negotiations).”

The “Review” reported that the British Government was aware of the political significance of appointing a local to the J.L.G. Not only would it satisfy Parliament, it would be seen as a token of direct Hong Kong participation in the transition.

As a result it had nominated Mr Ho, along with Dr

David Wilson and" Mr Tony Galsworthy of the Foreign Office in London, Mr Peter Thompson of the Embassy in Peking, and a Hong Kong political adviser, Mr John Boyd, to the J.L.G.

the group’s composition has not yet been formally announced. Mr Ho who has considerable experience in the international trade — the teritory’s life blood — is highly regarded in Hong Kong. But Peking maintains that all Hong Kong Chinese, whether holders of British Dependent Territory Citizen passports (i.e. those British subjects with no right of rsidence in Britain) or not, are Chinese nationals.

Reports in Hong Kong have said that a way round the problem would be for Mr Ho to be given full British citizenship, thus allowing the Chinese to regard him as representing British and not local interests.

Mr Ho was granted New Zealand citizenship about five years ago because his Chinese wife, who has relatives in New Zealand, had citizenship through descent, a diplomat said.

There was no obection on Wellington’s part to New Zealanders holding dual citizenship, he said. But Britain which also permitted dual citizenship, required diplomats to be British passport holders.

The private sector local Government representatives have been lobbying hard for observer status on the meetings of the J.L.G., which will exist until the year 2000. Reports said this was in part because of fears that London and Peking would not fully take into account local interests. It was also seen as a way to boost their stature in Hong Kong where

people have traditionally been seen as more interested in looking after business than politics.