TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 168

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GRS 270

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 15113OZ FCO

TELNO 159

;

OF 15104OZ JANUARY 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

104A

SELECTORS FILE COPY

MAN 040/4

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY - 7 FEB 1986

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taker

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR WILSON, AUS ASIA FROM GOVERNOR.

YOUR TELNO

1. MANY THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS. AT THIS MORNING'S MEETING OF EXCO SIR S Y CHUNG WAS LEAST DISPOSED TO ACCEPT THAT A WILLINGNESS TO

KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON THE PART OF HMG WAS AS MUCH AS WE COULD EXPECT AT THIS STAGE, PARTICULARLY AS FAR AS THE ENDORSEMENT IN THE PASSPORT WAS CONCERNED. HE WAS DISPOSED TO ARGUE THAT SHOULD GET ON A PLANE TONIGHT TO REPRESENT MORE DIRECTLY TO MINISTERS THE FEELING IN HONG KONG, AND PARTICULARLY AMONG UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, ON THIS ISSUE. HIS COLLEAGUES WERE NOT DISPOSED TO AGREE THAT THIS WOULD

BE A WISE MOVE. THEY TOOK THE VIEW THAT IF THE EVENTUAL DECISION WAS

NEGATIVE THE WORST THING WOULD BE FOR THE GOVERNOP TO TRAVEL TO

LONDON TO BE TURNED DOWN. IN ANY CASE A REFUSAL WOULD NOT BE THE END

OF THE DAY BECAUSE THEY WOULD CONTINUE THE BATTLE. IF ON THE OTHER

HAND (AND AS THEY FERVENTLY HOPED) HMG WAS MOVED TO AGREE TO THE

ENDORSEMENT IT WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL BOOST TO THE REPUTATION OF THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IF THE GOVERNOR VISITED LONDON A FEW DAYS

BEFORE THE DECISION WERE ANNOUNCED AND WAS ENTHER THERE AT THE

TIME OR ABLE TO BRING IT BACK WITH HIM.

2. THERE IS NO NEED TO COME TO CONCLUSIONS ON THESE MATTERS NOW

BUT REPORT THEM TO YOU AS AN INDICATION OF THE THINKING OF EXCO

UNOFFICIALS WHO ARE MUCH CONCERNED THAT THE REPUTATION AND THE

AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE DAMAGED AND

SHOULD, IF POSSIBLE, BE ENHANCED IN THE COMMUNITY BY THE OUTCOME.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HKD

MR WILSON

CONFIDENTIAL