DRAFT BRIEF
SECRET
DSR 11C
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 29 MARCH 1 APRIL
-
BRIEF NO.1:
STEERING BRIEF
OBJECTIVES
1. (a) To reassure the local community that HMG are fully
aware of their responsibilities to the territory and
intend to fulfil them; this is particularly important
at this time in view of the disquiet caused by the
Nationality Bill;
(b) To get a first-hand impression of Hong Kong's problems,
needs and achievements;
(c) To discuss the Hong Kong angle to subjects to be
raised during the Secretary of State's visit to China.
BACKGROUND TO THE VISIT
2. The Secretary of State last visited Hong Kong in June 1979
to see for himself the problems created by the impact of the
combined influx of immigrants from China and refugees from
Vietnam. That visit, the subsequent announcement of a UK
resettlement quota of 10,000 refugees and the swift reinforce-
ment of the Hong Kong Garrison, provided concrete evidence of
HMG's continuing commitment to Hong Kong. Nevertheless, a
number of other developments in the last two years
vivid and recent being the Nationality Bill below) have given rise to fears that the UK is deliberately
distancing itself from Hong Kong and that local interests are
being overlooked. The visit will provide a timely opportunity
publicly to confirm HMG's commitment and to compensate for the intended visit last September which had to be cancelled.
PROGRAMME
the most
(see para.4
3. There are separate programmes for the Secretary of State
(Brief No.2) and Lady Carrington (Brief No.3).
Carrington's programme falls into two parts:
SECRET
Lord
/(a)
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