CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 04110OZ FCO
TELNO 1709
MKB 012 13·
OF 040946Z NOVEMBER 1993
REC
ISTRY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
1513
ISTR
SUMMARY
IN.
然
pa. Leglo
(1)
827362
MDHIAN 1806
LegColon
Emily Lau will move a motion on LegCo on 10 November on freedom of movement post 97, including a request for an assurance that BN (0)s will be accepted into the UK if expelled from Hong Kong. We should be grateful for a line from you.
DETAILS
2. As forecast, LegCo is persisting with issues arising from Han Dong-fang's expulsion from China and from the Home Secretary's statement made on 9 June to the LegCo delegation that BN (0)s would be treated sympathetically for UK settlement in a worst case.
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3. The following motion, in the name of Emily Lau, Chairman of the Nationality Sub-committee is going to be debated on 10 November
That this Council urges the British Government
(a) to secure a firm undertaking from the People's Republic of China on Hong Kong people's freedom of movement after 30 June 1997, in particular that Hong Kong people will neither be denied the right to re-enter the Special Administrative Region nor have their passports cancelled; and
(b) to confirm that if holders of British National (Overseas) passports are expelled from Hong Kong after 30 June 1997 they will be accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom.
4.
Our line regarding (a) will be that the PRC has already given those undertakings in the Joint Declaration (JD 17, 151, 162, 163, 164). Detailed implementation of these commitments will be discussed in the JLG.
5.
(b) is more a matter for you. You are aware of our views on the subject. We assume you will wish merely to repeat the assurance made by Sir Geoffrey Howe in 1989. This will, however,
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