CONFIDENTIAL
3.
I have been discussing with the Home Office the terms of a
draft letter which the Private Secretary might send to Mr Powell in
reply to that letter. It would seek to reinforce the Home and
Foreign Secretary's minutes of 2 and 5 December by pointing out that under existing rules significant numbers of entrepreneurs/small and
medium sized businessmen, including some from Hong Kong, already
come to this country to set up job creating businesses. It would also point out that not all Vietnamese boat people are dependent on
the State and quite a few success stories. The draft is attached
(for information only at this stage).
4.
I had been on the point of recommending that a draft on these
lines should issue as soon as possible. But I have just heard
(from the Home Office) that a letter is about to issue from No 10 in
response to the minuting about British citizenship for Hong Kong
businessmen, accepting that existing legislation should not be
amended but seeking clarification of some points. Under the
circumstances, I recommend that we wait and see what that letter
contains before contributing any further comment ourselves.
CONFIDENTIAL
ARPan
A R Paul