8
UNCLASSIFIED
2 -
(Defensive) Children of British citizens born abroad.
Many
children will acquire British citizenship through their mothers.
There will also be provision for acquisition of citizenship by child-
ren of businessmen who are yet to be defined for the purpose of a Bill.
Publication of White Paper gives Hong Kong further opportunity to
9.
comment.
IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA
10. Share concern at the very high levels of illegal immigration.
have sought assurances from the Chinese Government that they are doing
all they can to stem the flow and the problem will be raised once
again in Peking.
We
11. (For defensive use only): Legal immigration is a less serious
problem - although high, the numbers have remained at a stable level.
12. (For UMELCO only): The Governor will keep under review current
policies on illegal immigration in order to react promptly and effect-
ively should there be any worsening of the situation.
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
13. Following the Governor's visit last year, the Financial Secretary
has now also paid a successful visit to China. Deng Xiaoping and
other Chinese leaders stressed the importance of confidence and invest-
ment in Hong Kong and the part this plays in their own drive for
modernisation.
Sino-British relations excellent. So the outlook is
very good.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
14. Great admiration in the UK, and internationally, for the mainten-
ance of humane attitude towards refugees. Recognise the difficulties
Hong Kong still faces given the continued arrivals and relatively slow
rate of resettlement. Hope that HMG's commitment to accept a quota of
10,000 Vietnamese refugees permanently will be fulfilled before the
end of this financial year. Very difficult for the UK to accept any
more.
UNCLASSIFIED
/15.