Prime Minister
SECRET
HONG KONG ASSURANCES: LEGISLATION
1.
As you know we are to consider this matter at OD (K) on 15 March.
I have seen a copy of David Waddington's memorandum for this
meeting, revised to take account of our discussion on 6 March.
in broad agreement with it. There is however one further
modification which I would like to suggest.
I am
2. In the course of my meeting with the Governor on 8 March, he
expressed serious concern to me about the exclusion of over 80% of
the working population of Hong Kong from even a token chance of
success. He explained that the key to the acceptability of the
package in the territory had been the fact that it ranged very
widely across Hong Kong society and that no-one would be excluded
from applying, even though the chances of success for the great
majority would be extremely small. He argued that the proposed changes would undermine this principle and could provoke strong
criticism in Hong Kong which would play back in this country,
thereby complicating our task in securing the passage of the Bill
through Parliament.
3. I see some force in this argument, although I do not accept that
it would be right to pretend that our scheme is designed for anyone
other than genuinely key people. I do however see the need for a
small reserve category, in addition to the seven categories listed
in David Waddington's memorandum. This category would cater for
genuinely key people who would not be covered under the revised
proposals. The sort of people I have in mind are air traffic
controllers (vital for the safe and efficient function of Kai Tak
Airport); first class interpreters and translators (essential in an
international city such as Hong Kong); or managers of the huge
public housing estates in Hong Kong.
HOTAAE
SECRET