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PS/Lord Glenalt
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PS/Mr Egger QUEEN ANNE'S GATE LONDON SWIX 9AT
Mr Mclare
14/
Dear Geoffmy,
HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS
14 July 1988
11/
I was disturbed to Thank you for your minute of 13 June. hear of the complaints which were made to you about the treatment of Hong Kong British passport holders seeking entry to the United Kingdom. I know that Simon Glenarthur and Tim Renton had a useful discussion this morning, and made progress on many of the points you raised. Our officials will pursue this as quickly as possible. We are keen to do everything we can to provide reassurance to Hong Kong about the operation of immigration controls in the United Kingdom.
I recognise that immigration and nationality matters are sensitive issues in Hong Kong, and have to be handled carefully. There is a tendency for individual cases to attract considerable attention in the Hong Kong media, and to be construed - quite wrongly as part of a process of eroding the rights enjoyed by Hong Kong British passport holders. We need to provide what reassurance we can. One way of doing this, as Tim Renton and Simon Glenarthur discussed, would be closer liaison with the Hong Kong authorities about decisions taken in the UK which may attract adverse, and frequently quite unfounded, criticism in Hong Kong. I know that our officials are in touch about this.
There have been a number of allegations about the way individual passengers have been treated by immigration officers, and in one case police officers, and these are being investigated. The standing instructions issued to immigration officers require them to behave courteously to passengers at all times. Any specific complaints will always be investigated and action taken if necessary. I understand that members of the Executive and Legislative Councils have undertaken to send Simon Glenarthur a dossier of travellers' complaints and we will look at this carefully when it arrives.
One of the particular points put to Simon Glenarthur was the suggestion that immigration officers have questioned passengers from Hong Kong about their attitudes towards Hong Kong's future Questions unrelated and their long term plans as to residence.
Hurd-5/5 14/7 Haluk passport
holders
The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP
/to the