▲ 26-JUL-1993 15:29
B4 IND LIVERPOOL
rom:
A R Rawsthorne IND
Lunar House
TGTN 3822 2733
22 July 1993
44 051 236 3386
HKD 348/6 забо
2 8 JUI 1993
CC Mr Toon
Mr Lockyer Mr Barnes Mr Langdon Mr Moorey
Mr Osborne
Mr Kelly 0/1
Mrs Kellas
Mr Hebblewhite Mr Rock
Mr Cameron
Parliamentary Section
PQ FROM MR ALLEN
2.
I attach a background note and draft reply to this Question.
It has no doubt been prompted by the Vote in the House of Lords last Thursday calling on the Government to grant British citizenship to the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong who will not have a right of abode elsewhere after 1997.
3.
The draft restates current policy, on the assumption that Ministers do not wish to change it despite the House of Lords Vote. If so, it will be the first public announcement to that effect. The Lords may feel that this is a fairly cavalier response to the views they expressed so strongly (and which are not specifically referred to in the draft). But, if this does remain the line, there would be no advantage in prevarication (eg that the Government is considering the matter in the light of the
views expressed) which would only raise hopes unjustifiably.
ARR
AR RAWSTHORNE
P.02
115