TNAG-1024-FCO40-1274-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1981 — Page 75

DRAFT BRIEF

SECRET

DSR 11C

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 29 MARCH 1 APRIL

-

BRIEF NO.1:

STEERING BRIEF

OBJECTIVES

1. (a) To reassure the local community that HMG are fully

aware of their responsibilities to the territory and

intend to fulfil them; this is particularly important

at this time in view of the disquiet caused by the

Nationality Bill;

(b) To get a first-hand impression of Hong Kong's problems,

needs and achievements;

(c) To discuss the Hong Kong angle to subjects to be

raised during the Secretary of State's visit to China.

BACKGROUND TO THE VISIT

2. The Secretary of State last visited Hong Kong in June 1979

to see for himself the problems created by the impact of the

combined influx of immigrants from China and refugees from

Vietnam. That visit, the subsequent announcement of a UK

resettlement quota of 10,000 refugees and the swift reinforce-

ment of the Hong Kong Garrison, provided concrete evidence of

HMG's continuing commitment to Hong Kong. Nevertheless, a

number of other developments in the last two years

vivid and recent being the Nationality Bill below) have given rise to fears that the UK is deliberately

distancing itself from Hong Kong and that local interests are

being overlooked. The visit will provide a timely opportunity

publicly to confirm HMG's commitment and to compensate for the intended visit last September which had to be cancelled.

PROGRAMME

the most

(see para.4

3. There are separate programmes for the Secretary of State

(Brief No.2) and Lady Carrington (Brief No.3).

Carrington's programme falls into two parts:

SECRET

Lord

/(a)

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