ELMAAF ( 2 )
CONFIDENTIAL
CABINET MEETING: 28 SEPTEMBER: HONG KONG
Mr Maude's Visit to Hong Kong, 17-19 September
Went as well as could be expected.
much better than in July.
Good press.
Hay Kory Opt
Save of Shay atter J. Pat
wit - плазит
Timing propitious. Atmosphere
Confidence in Hong Kong still badly bruised. Although on surface
life in territory is returning to normal, underlying concerns and problems remain. Continuing uncertainty over nationality package has led to serious morale problem in civil service. British firms
also very concerned about loss of key employees.
Expectations about content of nationality package now more realistic. OMELCO felt obliged to restate case for right of abode
for all. But in subsequent discussion, made clear they recognise package will fall far short of this.
—
Since announcement on nationality package now likely to be
delayed until after Prince of Wales' visit on 7-10 November,
Mr Maude explained that further work remains to be done in order to
get details absolutely right. OD(K) will discuss possible shape of
nationality package on 26 October.
On pace of democratisation, appears to be fairly wide support for OMELCO proposals for 1991 (ie one third of LegCo should be directly
elected in 1991). But some concern that OMELCO proposals for 1995
(ie no less than 50% directly elected seats by 1995) may go too far. Even the proposals for 1991 go beyond what is in the current draft of the Basic Law (27% directly elected seats by 1997).
Visited Vietnamese boat people camps. Tai A Chau (where cholera
outbreak occurred) now evacuated and conditions in camps much better
than in summer. But impatience mounting for early start to mandatory repatriation after Geneva Steering Committee meeting on
16-17 October. OD (K) will discuss on 4 October.
CONFIDENTIAL