CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1093
OF 29123OZ MARCH 90
HKC 340/1
STRY
9 APR 1990
*GISTRY
ion Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP
LG HONG KONG
135413
MDHIAN 6486
fe
ра вимерз
PEKING TELNO 484 TO YOU: QIAN QICHEN PRESS CONFERENCE: UK
NATIONALITY PACKAGE
1. QIAN'S REMARKS ON THE PACKAGE RECEIVED WIDE PRESS COVERAGE TODAY. HE WAS ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE REPEATED THE OFT-REPEATED CHINESE LINE THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE PROPERLY RENOUNCED THEIR CHINESE NATIONALITY WOULD BE REGARDED AS FOREIGN NATIONALS. PRESS
ARTICLES FOLLOW BY FAX.
COMMENT
QIAN'S REMARKS, WHILE CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS MFA STATEMENTS, INTRODUCE THE NEW THOUGHT THAT, FAR FROM PROMOTING STABILITY THE UK NATIONALITY SCHEME WILL UNDERMINE IT BY CAUSING CONFUSION AND DIVISIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THERE IS ALSO AN ATTEMPT TO ARGUE THAT THE PACKAGE IS UNNECESSARY GIVEN THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN ARE LIKELY TO IMPROVE AND THAT AS LONG AS HONG KONG CONTINUES TO OFFER GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS AND MAKING MONEY PEOPLE WILL BE PERSUADED TO REMAIN AND EVEN ATTRACTED TO RETURN. THIS ALL SEEMS PART AND PARCEL OF THE GENERAL EFFORT TO DEVALUE THE SCHEME BOTH IN THE EYES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND THE BRITISH
PARLIAMENT.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
57
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
DISTRIBUTION
60
PUSD
NEWS D
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL