CONFIDENTIAL
52
067750
MDHOAN 8355
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 360
OF 21100OZ FEB 91
HKD 340/4
RECEIVED INDE
22 PEE 190
PROX OFFICER
INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
FROM PAUL, HKD
YOUR TELNO 526 : BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT, TAKE-UP
1.
WE WERE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THIS ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESENT SITUATION AND FOR YOUR ADVICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO EXTEND THE
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS.
2.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE AGREES THERE IS NO CASE FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE. HE CONSIDERS THAT, WHATEVER THE LEVEL OF APPLICATIONS, THE SCHEME HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE BY STEADYING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS PARTICULARLY FRAGILE.
3.
IT WILL HOWEVER BE NECESSARY TO HAVE A ROBUST RESPONSE TO ANY CRITICS OF THE SCHEME. WE ARE PREPARING A QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF FOR USE WITH MPS AND JOURNALISTS, WHICH WE WILL FAX TO YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE WOULD ALSO WELCOME AN EARLY SIGHT OF THE BRIEFING WHICH YOU ARE PREPARING FOR YOUR OWN PURPOSES. 4. WE SHALL OF COURSE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY: YOUR PROPOSED DAILY REPORTS ON APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WILL THEREFORE BE MOST USEFUL.
HURD
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
25
MAIN
25
LIMITED
HKD
PS
NNNN
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL