CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
nowhere else to go, we would expect that the Government
consider sympathetically whether to
of the day would
admit them, on a case by case basis, in the light of
these circumstances.
§.
We also wonder a little whether the annex to the
proposed minute to the Prime Minister sets out the
arguments about the ethnic minorties in a sufficiently
comprehensive manner. This is of course for you, but I
enclose a possible form of words which you might think
helpful.
CQ.
We are also rather concerned
about the timing
proposed for the laying of the order. the Joint Liaison
Group will meet from 11 to 14 March in Hong Kong. It
will provide a fairly controversial news story We would
be very reluctant to
nationality on 10 March
see announcements
•
mad e
about
immediately before this meeting
starts, which they would certainly raise the temperature
in Hong Kong. We very much hope that it could be
possible to delay announcements for at least a week, ie
until about 17 March. I am not sure exactly what effect
this would have
for debating the Order
on the
timetable
CONFIDENTIAL