CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO ROUTINE F C O
TELNO 319
OF 01023OZ MARCH 90
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG
C
013727
MDLIAN 2456
FOR HONG KONG DEPARTMENT.
1. DURING A BBC WORLD SERVICE REVIEW OF THE BRITISH PRESS AT 0025Z ON 1 MARCH THERE WAS A CURIOUS ITEM ON NATIONALITY PACKAGES.
2. ONE NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT BRITAIN HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH FRANCE, JAPAN, CANADA AND ITALY TO PROVIDE REFUGE FOR HONG KONG CITIZENS AFTER 1997. A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT WAS EXPECTED IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
3. THIS IS CLEARLY A GARBLED ACCOUNT. IS THERE HOWEVER ANY FOUNDATION TO THE SUGGESTION OF A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE? THE CHINESE WILL BE WATCHING THIS QUESTION LIKE HAWKS.
DONALD
YYYY
MAIN
18
MINIMAL HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
18
FED
1
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