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3.
Understandably, ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong would like the
assurance to apply to all British nationals. The LegCo delegation which called on the Home Secretary on 9 June pressed the Home Secretary to confirm that in extremis people with joint British and Chinese nationality would fall under the terms of the assurances. He did so, and LegCo predictably seized on this. Subsequently Home Office officials appear to have succeeded in reasserting the traditional line.
4. Many Hong Kong people believe that the original assurance given by Baroness Young in 1985 can be read as applying to all Hong Kong British nationals. This is a view which the Governor
shares. Ideally he would like the Home Office to amend their policy to reflect this view. Failing that, he believes that the minimum defensible position for HMG was that set out by Sir
Geoffrey Howe to the FAC in 1989 (extract attached). Sir J Coles will recall that the Governor told him on 29 July that he (the Governor) had already deployed this line but he thought that it was essential that this point was endorsed by a British Minister soon, in order that it carry the authority of HMG.
MN Barres Tores.
Deborah Barnes Jones
HKD
Thand won.
6.
polu Wolas
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