SECRETARY OF STATE
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD
APS
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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
WHITEHALL LONDON SW1A 2HB
Telephone 071-21 82111/3
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are was string as the main rationale for the scheme: ie to anchor key people in place after 1997.
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MO 6/19/1G
Mornis
15/1
13 January 1992
HKD 340 12
14/1
BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) ACT
Thank you for your letter of 19th December in response to my note of 24th October.
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I do appreciate the difficulties involved in amending the Order in Council on what has been a controversial subject. But I do not accept that we are seeking to give "preferential treatment to the garrison and so favouring our own interests to the detriment of other residents of Hong Kong". Experience of the first tranche ? suggests that there could be scope for helping the garrison without disadvantaging any others. Furthermore, by virtue of the fact that their jobs are disappearing in 1997, garrison staff are receiving far from preferential treatment at the moment; and their concern that they may be particularly vulnerable as a result of their previous service is reflected in the relatively high rates of application by the garrison LEP. Finally, if British interests are served by helping to ensure the continuing effectiveness of the
d
garrison which I believe they are
particularly coy about this.
I see no reason for us to be
The Rt Hon Kenneth Baker MP
Home Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
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