The Government's position on nationality requirements for undersecretaries and political assistants is consistent with the Basic Law, the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau says.

They are not principal officials and so are appointed by the Chief Executive, not the Central Government.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the interpretation on the Chinese Nationality Law application in Hong Kong in 1996. Chinese nationals who are Hong Kong permanent residents can return and retain their Chinese nationality status after emigrating overseas. They can also retain identity documents issued by foreign governments as travel documents.

The bureau said Hong Kong permanent residents who have foreign right of abode are not excluded from being considered for political appointments.

The Government respects deputy directors and political assistants' personal decisions on whether to disclose and how to handle their right of abode in foreign countries.

The bureau added the remuneration packages for political appointees saw Legislative Council approval in December and the distribution of remuneration points have been disclosed.