GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1606
OF 2603O5Z MAY 86
CONFIDENTIAL
!
FOR HUM, HKD FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR TELNO 951 : BRITISH CITIZENSHIP : REQEUST FOR WEALTHY HONG KONG CHINESE BUSINESSMEN.
1. A DECISION TO GRANT EXCEPTIONS TO THE IMMIGRATION RULES TO ALLOW BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO BE CONFERRED ON WEALTHY HONG KONG CHINESE WITHOUT THEIR HAVING TO MEET THE USUAL RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIAL AT ANY TIME, IT WOULD ALWAYS BE OPEN TO CRITICISM AS ''SELL'ING BRITISH NATIONALITY'', ''CONFIRMING HMG'S LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'' AND, AT ITS WORSE, ''DEMONSTRATING A CYNICAL WILLINGNESS TO EXPLOIT FEARS ABOUT THE FUTURE IN PURSUIT OF BENEFIT FOR THE UK''.
2.EN THE LIGHT OF THE DECISION NOT TO GRANT BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO THE ETHNIC MINORITIES + BELIEVE THAT ANY SUCH DECISION WOULD NOW CAUSE AN OUTCRY AND BE POLITICALLY UNACCEPTABLE HERE. THE CONCLUSION WOULD BE DRAWN THAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S WEALTH WAS OF MORE *IMPORTANCE THAN HIS PERSONAL QUALITIES OR THAN ANY MORAL OBLIGATION TO THE ETHMIC MINORITIES. NO MITIGATING FACTORS RELATING TO *INVESTMENT IN THE UK OR HONG KONG WOULD NOW CARRY ANY WEIGHT AGAINST THESE OBJECTIONS.
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3.
AKERS-JONES
LIMITED
HID
PS
PS MR RENTON'
SIR WHARDING
MR WILSON
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO..40.
CONFIDENTIAL