TNAG-1311-FCO40-1673-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 74

CONFIDENTIAL

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CALL BY MR JUSTICE SIMON LI ON MR LUCE, 12 NOON, 6 DECEMBER 1984

Mr Richard Luce

Mr Roy Osborne, APS/Mr Luce

Mrs J A Klowak, HKD

Justice Simon LI

MF

НКК око

RECEIVED IN REGISTN

12 DEC 1984

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

:EGISTRY Action Taken

GK 131

1. Mr Luce asked M Li in the light of his experience as a Monitor, what he thought was of most concern to the people of Hong Kong about their future. Mr Li said that the nationality issue and the question of right of abode in the UK were of the most concern. There was much talk about the right of abode in the UK, especially by a small group of expatriate intellectuals. People were worried that after 1997 Hong Kong's link with the UK would be severed. There was a strong feeling of being pushed away. Some groups, especially the Indians and Parsees, were worried about their possible statelessness. However, Mr Li thought that the Secretary of State's statement in the House of Commons on 5 December might have eased their minds. He pointed out that some Indians would have lost the right to return to India.

2. Mr Luce said he was rather suprised that UMELCO had not raised the loss of transmissibility as an important issue. Mr Li thought that the people of Hong Kong talked less about points which were set out clearly in the draft agreement.

3. In reply to a question from Mr Luce, Mr Li explained that at the back of people's minds were such questions as "will I be able to visit the UK?, "will I be able to live in the UK?" The issue had been highlighted by the 1981 Nationality Act which had upset many people. Some people held the view that the British government should change travel documents now to see if they were internationally acceptable. This would help ensure a smooth transfer. Mr Luce said that if it were done now he believed it might help a smooth transfer.

4.

On the question of the development of representative government

CONFIDENTIAL