RESTRICTED
on the
Pao
Package fle
Сс
to Chinese recution
ула
BRIEFING FOR THE HON ALASTAIR GOODLAD MP FOR A MEETING WITH THE
CHINESE AMBASSADOR: 13 MARCH 1990
NATIONALITY PACKAGE FOR HONG KONG
ARD 340/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
23 MAY 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX,
REGISTRY
182
H12/3.
Agron Taken aving
1. There has been an increasing number Hong Kong over the last few years. (See statistics at A). The Government are well aware of the concern and reasons why these people are seeking residency elsewhere and the serious impact this will have on the future prosperity and good administration of Hong Kong up to 1997 and beyond. If these people who are emigrating were granted residency or citizenship of another country without leaving Hong Kong it would give them the assurance they need to remain in the territory. For precisely this reason the Foreign Secretary announced the package of measures on 20 December to tackle this problem (Annex B).
2. The Government considered some form of "guaranteed" entry certificate instead of full citizenship but this was ruled out for two reasons (i) it could be revoked by a future British Government as the opposition already stated it would and (ii) it was against the letter of the British Memorandum attached to the Joint
Declaration (section (a) (Annex C)).
3. The Chinese Government, in various statements since the announcement of the nationality package, have denounced Their objections seem to be:
in their view
Lit
the scheme.
(a) That it violates our commitment in the Joint Declaration (they have said that they reserve the right to take appropriate measures on this issue).
(b) That it would give British citizenship to a large number of civil servants whose allegiance to China may therefore be in
doubt.
MTHAQE
RESTRICTED
P
Fathe