TNAG-0800-FCO40-1004-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-Nationality-1978 — Page 57

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TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.195 OF 20 FEBRUARY 78,

INFO IMMEDIATE: HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,

PRIORITY: PEKING.

FFOR STEWART, HKGD, FROM DAVIES.

M.1.P.T ON U.K GREEN PAPER ON BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW.

1. FULL TEXT OF THE S.C.M.P ARTICLE FOLLOWS:

"'U.K OFFICIALS ALLAY FEARS FROM OUR POLITICAL

CORRESPONDENT, LONDON, FEB.19.

BRITISH OFFICIALS CLAIM THERE HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED REPORTS ABOUT THE QUESTION OF RESTRICTING HONG KONG-CHINESE EMIGRATION

TO BRITAIN IN THE HYPOTHETICAL EVENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES

LEASE COMING TO AN END.

AND THEY SAY THE REPORTS HAVE CAUSED UNNECESSARY MISUNDERSTANDINS

AND FEARS.

THE QUESTION OF CHINESE EMIGRATION TO BRITAIN WHEN THE LEASE ENDS IS NOT IDENTIFIED IN LONDON AS EITHER IMMINENT OR SERIOUS.

ALARMIST REPORTS ABOUT ''MILLIONS OF CHINESE FLOODING BRITAIN'’ WHEN THE LEASE EXPIRES ARE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN WHITEHALL OR

WESTMINSTER.

IT IS POINTED OUT IN LONDON THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATEDLY STRESSED THAT THE LEASE EXPIRY DATE OF 1997 IS MEANINGLESS AND IRRELEVANT.

THE CHINESE FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER, MR LI CHIANG, SAID IN THE NOVEMBER ISSUE OF RED FLAG THAT THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG AND MACAU WERE PROBLEMS. LEFT OVER BY HISTORY WHICH WOULD BE SOLVED WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT.

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