CAEAJK
CONFIDENTIAL
CALL ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY OMELCO DELEGATION: 20 NOVEMBER
1989
Points to Make
A: NATIONALITY
Well aware that
Working urgently on assurances scheme.
announcement is anxiously awaited in Hong Kong. But this is a
complicated matter. No precedence in UK immigration policy. Much
detailed work involved. Scheme will need to be fair and defensible
to Parliament.
Considerable progress has been made. Visit of FCO/Home Office officials last month very useful. Report has now been submitted.
Being carefully considered. Aiming for announcement around turn of
year.
Raised
Meanwhile, rallying international support for Hong Kong.
the matter on a number of occasions (eg Madrid European Council,
Paris Economic Summit and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
in Kuala Lumpur). Also in bilateral contacts with Governments.
Will continue to press international community to provide
clearest possible assurances to help bolster confidence in HK.
[Defensive Points]
Numbers? Will be as generous as possible within the political
and practical constraints.
Assurances must take form of citizenship. Understand arguments
for this. Will give due weight to them in taking decision on form
of assurances.
Right of abode for all Hong Kong people. HMG's position clear
on this. Believe it is increasingly understood and accepted in
Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL