Int Sup
355
RM12/9 Misa Maroden Mr Morks
Mr Paul
HKD
See brief
and
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- for action √19/9
12/9
HKD 340/1
RECEIVE
20 SEP 1990
FROM: APS/M Garel-Jones
INDEX
DATE: 11 September 1990
cc: PS/Lord Caithness Mr Greenstock
Mr Burns
Mr Warren-Gash, SED
HONG KONG/GIBRALTAR
1.
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Mr Bossano, called on Mr Garel-Jones on 11 September. During the call Mr Bossano raised the possibility of Gibraltar offering the right of residence to some 2,000 Hong Kong people. Mr Garel-Jones pointed out that the purpose of our nationality scheme was to encourage people to remain in Hong Kong. Mr Bossano said that he fully understood this and that his offer was not meant to undermine the British Government's policy. His main interest was to attract investment into Gibraltar. He had been in touch with a group of Hong Kong companies who were interested in financing Gibraltar's East coast reclamation project. These companies were concerned about losing those of their key people who would not qualify for British passports. The idea was that these companies would between them invest some £20 million in the reclamation project. Gibraltar would offer the companies the right of residence in Gibraltar for 2000 of their key people. This offer would obviously only be taken up by the companies if there were problems in Hong Kong after 1997.
2.
Mr Garel-Jones offered to look into this and to let
Mr Bossano have an answer when he visited Gibraltar on 25 and 26 September. I should be grateful if you would let SED have briefing on this point for Mr Garel-Jones' visit.
Valerie Ewan
Valerie Ewan
Assistant Private Secretary to Mr Tristan Garel-Jones
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