CONFIDENTIAL
to leave Hong Kong in the future we would expect the Government of the day to consider any case for admission to the UK with considerable and particular sympathy.
5. The Government of India have generally kept a low profile over the issue, saying that the problem is one for
the UK to resolve. However following the Secretary of State's meeting with the Indian President in April 1990 the Indians told a press conference that the President had expressed serious concern to the Secretary of State over the
future of Hong Kong residents of Indian origin who would be
left stateless after 1997. In fact the matter was not
mentioned. Then at the end of the Secretary of State's
visit to India in January, the Indian foreign Minister raised the matter (at New Delhi Airport on 18 January).
Secretary of State instructed the High Commission to brief
the MFA on the background to the issue.
The
6. The subject may become a domestic issue in Indian
politics as 1997 approaches, but we judge that it would be
counter productive to ask the Indians to provide right of
abode assurances to Indians in Hong Kong, (this would simply
draw unwelcome attention to our immigration policy towards
the sub-continent). However the question of dual
citizenship for Indians abroad remains under consideration
by the GOI. If they choose to permit it this could help the
Hong Kong Indians.
JH2AAX/2
CONFIDENTIAL