B
settled status in the UK by making short visits here once
every two years. In June this year he lost his indefinite
leave to remain after telling the Immigration Officer that
he was coming to the UK as a short-term visitor rather than as a returning resident. At his meeting with OMELCO on 18
September (the day after Mr Biffen's meeting), Lord
Caithness was able to reassure them that the amendment to
Rule 58 on "returning residents" merely clarified the situation and did not mean any change in procedure.
then, interest in this subject appears to have subsided.
Since
5. Mr Barrow's views on Vietnamese boat people are already
well known. He raised the subject during his call on Lord Caithness on 11 September and subsequently sent a copy of his paper to Mr Colvin (SEAD), who replied on 5 October.
Mr Barrow is Deputy Chairman of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd, is opposed to further mandatory repatriation, which he considers would create publicity harmful to Hong Kong's wider interests. He favours pressing the United States to normalise relations with Vietnam, in order to encourage
volunteers to come forward.
6. Mr Hope is an active lobbyist on behalf of British
Citizens for Hong Kong, a group of British expatriates who have campaigned on a number of issues related to the
nationality package, including provision for expatriate spouses, war widows and ethnic minorities. Of the three
issues raised in Mr Hope's latest letter, two (the Bill of
rights and prosecutions under the Summary Offences Ordinance) are primarily matters for the Hong Kong
Government, while the third (selection of the first Chief
Executive) is a matter for discussion with the Chinese
Government in accordance with the provisions of the Basic
Law.
MOPADK/2
ARPanc
A R Paul