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Mr M 111
Mr Paul Is
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CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Morris
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Frivate Secretary PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore Mr Burns, NAD Mr Torry,
WASHINGTON
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Mr Paul HKD
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SUPP
HONG KONG ASSURANCES: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
Mr Peirce's minute of 10 January (attached) records the Secretary of State's cautious welcome for
1.
Congressman Solarz's suggestion that a British offical might testify before his Sub-Committee when it considers the Solarz proposal on right of abode for Hong Kong people.
2.
When Mr Gillmore and I saw Mr Solarz on 9 January,
Mr Solarz questioned us closely on our nationality package and what we were doing to encourage international support. He gave us copies of his own proposal and of a press article advocating his approach (attached). He thought legislative action could be taken by the end of this year, and that there was a realistic possibility that up to 20,000 visas a year might be available for Hong Kong people thereafter. He asked us whether the period of validity he had in mind for such visas up to 2007 would serve the purpose of giving people confidence to remain in Hong Kong. We thought it would.
3. Mr Solarz said that in order to win political support on the Hill, it would be very helpful if we could find ways to make it clear that the approach he was advocating was part of an international response to meet the crisis of confidence in Hong Kong post-Tiananmen. In that connection, it would be useful if I or someone else could testify before his Sub-Committee at the appropriate time in order to describe what we were doing and what the response had been from others. Perhaps we could let him know through the Embassy in Washington whether we would be receptive to the idea.
I should be grateful if you would investigate whether there are any rules governing the appearance of officials
4.
/before
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