UNCLASSIFIED
ACCEPTABILITY
4.
х
There has been fairly widespread support for the idea that
amendments to the agreement will be possible, and that Britain
should seek to reopen negotiations with China if public opinion in
Hong Kong is opposed to any of the arrangements. The Assessment Office has been criticised as a cosmetic exercise by some MPs,
whilst others have said it performs a genuinely useful function. Some doubt has been expressed about whether six weeks is long enough
to collect a significant proportion of public opinion.
NATIONALITY
5. On the question of nationality, MPs are divided between those
(notably Enoch Powell) who have stated that large numbers of
emigrants from Hong Kong would not be welcome in the UK, and those
who have said that Britain is responsible for those Hong Kong people who wished to emigrate. Shirley Williams wrote to the Secretary of
State to say that Commonwealth governments should mount international resettlement operation.
an
6. Other views that have been aired include the pros and cons of
more rapid moves towards democratic government in Hong Kong, the
desirability of Hong Kong representation on the Sino-British Joint
Liaison Group, fears about possible conscription of Hong Kong people
into the PLA, and the need to promote trade with China.
19 October 1984
The mound
TEJ Mound
Hong Kong Department
UNCLASSIFIED