CONFIDENTIAL
Have been personally involved: several face-to-face and telephone discussions with President Bush.
I am very pleased for Hong Kong that MFN now likely to be renewed.
But this is not the end of the road. Need to
continue to work together, and with China, in the months and years ahead.
Nationality
I enclose a background paper on the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 (Annex F). The first tranche of the scheme (about 43,000 places of the total 50,000 principal beneficiaries) was 50% over-subscribed. Applications are now being processed, and the first few certificates of registration as British citizens have already been issued. If questioned about this, the Prime Minister might say:
Understand processing of first tranche going
smoothly. Places in under-subscribed categories will be re-allocated to second tranche (timing not yet set, but
nearer 1997);
-
Believe scheme has helped restore confidence in the public and private sectors. Also had catalyst effect in encouraging other countries to come up with similar schemes;
(Defensive) A scheme for all Hong Kong people would not have been feasible: could not expect future Governments to accept such an immigration commitment.
CONFIDENTIAL