British High Commission
New Delhi 1100-21
Telegrams Ukrep New Delhi
Telephone 690371
Hong Kong Department
FCO
Dear
Kest
INDIA
-
HONG KONG
HAK 040/4
The Powell
Ctr 17/12
ра
in
605
Your reference
..55
Our reference
050/2
Date
10 December 1985
1.
The Indian press have been showing some interest in the future
I am status of the small community of Indian origin in Hong Kong. enclosing copies of articles which appeared in the Times of India on 22 October and 5 December. The latter article, datelined London, is based on a report of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants which apparently raises doubts about the citizenship rights of non-Chinese British dependent territories citizens, with implications for their participation in political life and government service in Hong Kong.
2.
We understand from paragraph 6 of FCO telno 576 to Tokyo of 6 December that the right of abode in Hong Kong of this Indian community is now guaranteed. We would like to make use of this both with the MEA (as already authorised) and also with our contacts in the press.
Before doing so, however, we should be grateful for a line to take in response to the points raised about the future of the minority communities in Hong Kong. If possible we should like to prevent this subject growing into a major issue with the MEA, and believe this can best be avoided by giving them a thorough briefing.
Yous.
fichand Codingt
RJ Codrington
cc:
W M L Dickinson Esq
SAD
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