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CONSERVATIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY
Line to take
As my Rt Hon friend the Home Secretary has said, this Bill is not designed to encourage immigration but to anchor people in Hong
Kong.
The case of Hong Kong is unique. No other British colonial territory is being denied the option of independence and self government. This Bill sets no precedent for the corpus of our
national immigration and nationality law.
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I stand by the 1987 election manifesto commitment that "firm but fair immigration controls are essential for harmonious and improving community relations".
If some of my Rt Hon and Hon friends had their way and we
offered no concessions on nationality, the chances of an eventual collapse in Hong Kong would be made more likely, bringing with it the risk of uncontrolled and uncontrollable exodus of people, many
of whom would arrive at our ports and airports claiming refugee
status.
Background
Extracts from manifestos and policy statements since 1965 are
attached. The key texts are the 1970 and the February 1974 manifestos which provide the texts about "no further large scale
immigration".