CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 309
OF 06160OZ FEBRUARY
CONFIDENTIAL
74
142456
MDHOAN 2521
340/4
RECEIVED IF
1 1 APR 1990
DESK OFFICER
TRY
PA
Audion Taken
73
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD YOUR TELNO 451: UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE
1.
INDEX
DONALD TSANG'S VISIT TO THE UK ON 18/19 JANUARY WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM STADLEN'S NOTE, THERE WAS A BROAD MEASURE OF AGREEMENT ON THE WAY FORWARD. I KNOW THAT THE HOME OFFICE OFFICIALS CONCERNED WERE VERY IMPRESSED BY THE CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL WAY IN WHICH DONALD AND HIS TEAM HAD PREPARED FOR THAT MEETING.
2. AS YOU RIGHTLY SAY, DESPITE THE PROGRESS ALREADY MADE, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD. MINISTERS ARE HOWEVER DETERMINED TO STICK TO THE TIMETABLE OF INTRODUCING THE BILL BEFORE THE EASTER RECESS, IE THE WEEK BEGINNING 2 APRIL. WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE ROYAL ASSENT BEFORE THE SUMMER RECESS. WE SHALL BE DOING ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS TIMETABLE IS ADHERED TO.
3. I ENTIRELY APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE TIGHTNESS OF THE NUMERICAL CEILING OF 50,000. YOUR ADVICE ABOUT THE LOCAL PRESENTATIONAL AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IS WELL UNDERSTOOD
HERE.
HOWEVER, IN THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, MINISTERS WOULD NOT BE PREPARED TO CONTEMPLATE A SOLUTION WHICH INVOLVED BREACHING THE STRICT 50,000 CEILING WHICH THEY HAVE DECIDED TO SET FOR THE SCHEME. THEY ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT AT THIS DELICATE STAGE IN THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS, ANY SUGGESTION OF LOOPHOLES IN, OR ADDITIONS TO, THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS WOULD GO DOWN EXTREMELY BADLY IN PARLIAMENT, AND MIGHT EVEN JEOPARDISE THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE PACKAGE THROUGH THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
WE AND THE HOME OFFICE HAVE DRAWN TO THE ATTENTION OF
MINISTERS DONALD TSANG'S PROPOSALS FOR ACCOMMODATING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES WITHIN THE 225,000 OVERALL LIMIT. I AM AFRAID THAT BOTH THE HOME SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT WE MUST RETAIN THE 50,000 HEADS OF HOUSE LIMIT. THE HOME SECRETARY IS ADAMANT THAT NEITHER THE OPTION OF CONCENTRATING ON THE 225,000 FIGURE, NOR THAT OF DEALING WITH SPECIFIED CATEGORIES OUTSIDE AND IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN SCHEME,
4.
IS ACCEPTABLE.
5. I RECOGNISE THAT THIS WILL BE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO DONALD
TSANG AND HIS TEAM. BUT ALTHOUGH HOME OFFICE OFFICIALS UNDERTOOK TO CONSULT MINISTERS ABOUT DONALD TSANG'S IDEAS, THEY OFFERED NO
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