§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in the Hong Kong administration as presently constituted would be excluded after 1997 from office under the provisions of article 74 of the joint declaration.
§ Mr. SainsburySection IV of annex I to the joint declaration stipulates that British and other foreign nationals may serve as public servants at all levels "except as heads of major Government departments (corresponding to branches or departments at Secretary level) including the Police Department, and as Deputy Heads of some of those departments".
The Chinese Government have elaborated on this provision in the draft Basic Law. Based on the most recent reports of proposals by Basic Law drafters, we estimate that there are currently between 20 and 30 officials holding such posts.