Reference...
Rile
Mr Morris
CHKC040
RECL
14
26 MAR 1998
CALL ON THE SECRETARY QOFCESTATERRY THE FRIENDS OF HONG KONG: 1200,
TUESDAY 13 MARCH-
IN-
приз
"Action
14
1.
Discussions focussed almost entirely on nationality. At the end
of the call, Vice Admiral Sir John Roxburgh asked whether the
contents could be published in the Friends of Hong Kong magazine,
"Monitor". The Secretary of State undertook to write a letter to Dame Jill Knight, covering points raised during the call, which
could be so published.
2. I have recorded below in question and answer form, a summary of the discussion, which you will want to put into "module" language
for a letter. We must bear in mind that the Friends of Hong Kong
and the Monitor magazine are pro-Taiwan. Publication in the Monitor of a letter from the Secretary of State is likely to attract Chinese attention and disapproval. Pro-Taiwan elements may also seek to
re-publish the letter elsewhere. We shall need to draft carefully.
Question 1: Have we come to arrangements with other countries to
offer passports to Hong Kong people?
Answer 1: Our purpose was to anchor people in Hong Kong. Often the aim of countries like Canada or Australia was to draw them away.
However, we were encouraging other countries to follow our example, eg the French, we believed, operated a limited scheme for employees. We would probably report progress in this work when we published our own Bill (the Secretary of State indicated that he had been annoyed. by the recent headline on this subject and had purposely squashed
it).
Question 2: Was there indication of large scale immigration to
these countries at the moment?
Answer 2: The aim of our scheme was to offer passports to encourage people to stay in Hong Kong, not to encourage immigration. In persuading other countries to adopt schemes, the aim was the same.
CODE 18-77
MUKAHL