U20
OMELCO
Office of Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils
行政立法兩局議員辦事處
18 December 1989
The Rt Hon. Margaret Thatcher MP
10 Downing Street
LONDON SW1A OAA
United Kingdom
Kan Prime Minster.
Hong Kong
I am writing on behalf of the OMELCO Special Working Group on Nationality to express our concern at the increasingly negative views being expressed in Westminster on the question of taking measures to restore confidence and to encourage people to remain in Hong Kong. These views contrast considerably with the calls in Parliament in June and July for concrete action to be taken. They demonstrate fundamental misunderstandings about the objectives of taking action to restore confidence in Hong Kong and about Britain's moral obligations to the people of Hong Kong.
to
You are aware that we firmly believe that Britain has a moral responsibility to restore full British citizenship to all Hong Kong
Kong British subjects and to provide a safe and secure future for the entire population of Hong Kong. This is the most practical and effective way of restoring confidence to the territory. The objective of our request is to give people the confidence
remain in Hong Kong, not to encourage them to leave.
In order to achieve this, whatever measures that are taken should give solid and lasting assurance and should not be capable
being overturned by future governments. They should also be fully effective without the need for people to serve out terms of residence in the UK: this would be neither in Hong Kong's nor in Britain's interests. This is why we have put forward the view that full and immediate British citizenship, rather than assurances given through administrative means, would be the best means of achieving the objective.
They look
Hong Kong people's confidence has taken a severe knock in recent months.
to you, Prime Minister, for a decisive gesture of support.
Jans
ancerily,
(Mrs Rosanna TAM)
Convener
OMELCO Special Working Group on Nationality
Legislative Council Building, 8 Jackson Road, Central, Hong Kong. EXELA Tel: 5-8440700