6.
I
The Home Office have asked me for support on the question
of British citizenship for wealthy Hong Kong businessmen who
are willing to invest in Britain but
not to live here for the
necessary qualifying period. The Prime Minister wishes to find a way of making this possible; the Home Secretary is opposed.
understand that Mr Hurd has linked this issue in his mind
with tha t of the non-ethnic minorities: he has sa id that i t
would be very damaging in terms of Hong Kong opinion to grant
British citizenship to the wealthy Chinese businessmen while
de ny ing i t to the Indians and others.
therefore, be
possible for us to argue with the Home Office and, if neces sa ry OD(K), that we should agree to give British citizenship to both
groups. But citizenship for the businessmen may be a sensitive
issue in Hong Kong whatever our decision on the Indians; I
consulting the Governor separately about this.
It may,
am