CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY THE MINISTER FOR TRADE: 30 AUGUST-5 SEPTEMBER
NO 2.
POLITICAL BRIEF
ESSENTIAL FACTS
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1.
The present Chinese Government have never recognised the 19th
century treaties establishing British administration in Hong Kong.
They regard Hong Kong as Chinese territory temporarily under British
administration. Their publicly stated position is that the question
of the territory's future is something to be settled through
negotiation, when the time is ripe. In the meantime, they have
been at pains to assure investors that they need have no fear for
their investments no matter what decisions are eventually reached
about Hong Kong's political status.
2.
Such generalised assurances are helpful to long-term confidence
but they only partly relieve the legal and practical problems which
arise from the fact that all land leases in the New Territories are
due to end in 1997. These are matters which both sides will need
to look at and discuss eg during the Secretary of State's forthcoming
visit to Peking.
NEW NATIONALITY LAW
3.
HMG have agreed to establish a separate category of citizenship
for the Dependent Territories as a whole. The White Paper on a New
British Nationality Law, published on 30 July, suggests that the
title should be 'Citizenship of the British Dependent Territories',
but allows for the possibility of further discussion. Hong Kong,
which is in any case unhappy about the abandonment of a unitary system
of citizenship has argued for the retention of the term 'British
Subject'.
The proposed changes are seen by some in Hong Kong as
CONFIDENTAL
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