HKD $21/5.
23
PRESIDENCY BILATERAL WITH AUSTRALIA: 15 OCTOBER 1992
HONG KONG
Points to make
Chris Patten has a vital job to do at a crucial time.
Confident that he will do it well. His political experience and seniority will be to Hong Kong's advantage. support his constitutional proposals.
Hope you can
Unfortunate that Chinese are being slow in agreeing to the financing arrangements for the airport.
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We have taken full account of Chinese problems with these
arrangements. We have given them new proposals based on their own ideas. Probably (though they deny it) the Chinese are
linking agreement on Airport financing to other constitutional issues, eg democracy.
Pleased with the flexibility in Australian Immigration Rules
which permits Hong Kong People to obtain Australian residence.
- The arrangements for employees of Australian companies in
Hong Kong are particularly welcome, and will help contribute to confidence in Hong Kong.
- Latest reports indicate that applications to emigrate to Australia were down 13% in 1990/91. (Also down for Canada). Supports impression that general confidence in Hong Kong is higher than for some years. But Australian help appreciated.
pts.mc.Austria.BTC
JEB