XN000022-1989-04-21 — Page 5

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1989

BUT ALL THAT SAID, WE ARE PRAGMATIC AND

AND

WHEN MORE

PRACTICAL PEOPLE IF WE CANNOT ACHIEVE ALL THAT WE WOULD WISH FOR AT THIS STAGE, WE ARE PREPARED TO PUT FORWARD OTHER SUGGESTIONS. AS THE GOVERNOR SAID HE APPEARED BEFORE YOU IN LONDON, WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE FLEXIBILITY INTRODUCED INTO THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE BNA AND IMMIGRATION RULES. IN THIS RESPECT, WE HOPE YOU WILL LOOK POSITIVELY AT THE CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS MADE BY MEMBERS OF OMELCO, FOR EXAMPLE, TREATING PERIODS OF STUDY IN THE U.K. AS SUFFICIENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SATISFYING THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT WOULD BE MUCH WELCOMED.

THERE IS ALSO A CASE FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE. THE SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY THAT PERVADES THE COMMUNITY INEVITABLY AFFECTS THE CIVIL SERVICE TOO. INDEED MANY OF THEM FEEL THAT THEY ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO PRESSURE OF ALL KINDS. I CANNOT OVER-STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR PIVOTAL POSITION IN ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN 1997 AND THE SUCCESS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. I BELIEVE IT WOULD SEND A VERY ENCOURAGING MESSAGE TO THE CIVIL SERVICE IF THE HOME SECRETARY COULD EXERCISE MORE FLEXIBLY HIS DISCRETION UNDER SECTION 1(5) OF THE NATIONALITY ACT.

GRANTING OF UK PASSPORT ADDS CONFIDENCE IN HK: CS

* * * * *

KONG HONG

A

PEOPLE IS A THE GRANTING OF BRITISH PASSPORTS TO MATTER FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE, BUT IF THERE SHOULD BE

WOULD IT

ΤΟ ADD GREATLY THE CURRENT POLITICAL CHANGE IN

SIR DAVID FORD, SAID CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, TODAY (FRIDAY).

REPORTERS SPEAKING TO

POLICY

AFTER ATTENDING

THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS

IT

COMMITTEE HEARINGS, SIR DAVID ADDED: "I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, THAT

TO RAISE THE SECRETARY, ME. WRONG OF QUITE WOULD BE

THE PROSPECTS OF EXPECTATIONS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CLEARLY TOLD IS NOT POSSIBLE.

AS

CHIEF

ABOUT

SOMETHING

"AND THEREFORE, WE HAVE PUT FORWARD ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS CONSIDERATION LINE WITH MANY OF THE SUGGESTIONS OF THE OMELCO FOR THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.”

1+

IN

BY

CLEAR 'NO, THIS IS IF THE MESSAGE IS COMING TO US LOUD AND

THAT

AS WE,

A DO NOT BELIEVE NOT POSSIBLE AT THE MOMENT' THEN I

THE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD SIMPLY SAY 'WELL THAT'S THE END OF MATTER'.

"WE

LOOK MUST

CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. FORWARD SOME ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS,

I

WE CAN HELP INCREASE WHICH IN WAYS FOR

WE'VE DONE BY PUTTING THAT'S WHAT WELL,

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

/SIR DAVID