POPAER
CONFIDENTIAL
320
FROM: J Morris
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 6 April 1990
cc: Private Secretary
Mr McLaren
Mr Whitehead, News Dept
PRU
Special Advisers (2)
Mr
Paul PS/Mr Xaude
"W/12/4
12/4
Ако знаен 34014
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 1 JUN 1990
HONG KONG BILL: SECOND READING
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
PAGTION-KANRE
A
1. I had a meeting with the Home Office Bill Unit this morning to
discuss preparation of briefing and drafting of speeches for the
second reading of the Hong Kong Bill.
2. The unit had discussed the attached draft outline speech with
the Home Secretary as 5 April. The Home Secretary was broadly
content but plans to make the following additional points:
a) the Bill is not an immigration measure;
b) even those who don't receive passports will benefit from a
general improvement in confidence in the territory;
c) if an Armageddon scenario occurs more than 50,000 will come
to the UK anyway;
d) there is a distinction between key personnel and elitism;
e) he will make clear that the passage of the Bill will give
Parliament an opportunity to discuss and influence the content
of the schemes.
3. The Home Secretary does not intend to use the argument that
many of these selected could come under existing Immigration Rules.
(This risked playing into the hands of opponents who have said that
legislation is unnecessary; the Home Secretary already has
CONFIDENTIAL