A
£
Mr Jones, NTD
SECRET
HKR, 34d 1.
RECEIVED IN REARY NO ST
26 FEB 1981
DESK OFACER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken.
198
25/2
is
$
30.2.
P03013
NATIONALITY BILL:
1.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEPENDENCIES
92A)
I strongly support the points made by Mr Clift in his minute of 23 February, particularly as regards the implications of a separate Hong Kong citizenship for our relations with China. Any move in that direction would certainly raise questions in Chinese minds about our longer term objectives over Hong Kong. It could even raise the spectre of an 'independent' Hong Kong, which would touch on a very raw Chinese nerve (because of the Taiwan problem). Though such suspicions could no doubt be dispelled, the Chinese would certainly react adversely.
2.
As we draw nearer to 1997, it is essential that we should avoid moves which would be open to mis- interpretation and could only complicate our relations with China over Hong Kong.
выстри
RJT McLaren
Far Eastern Department
24 February 1981
copied to:
PS/Mr Luce
Mr Adams
Mr Clift, HKGD
SECRET