TNAG-1632-FCO40-2248-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-1987 — Page 102

RAB Z

SECRET

VISIT TO HONG KONG BY LORD GLENARTHUR, 16-19 SEPTEMBER

BRIEF NO 16: PRESS CONFERENCE

(xii) Undertakings

Defensive (if pressed)

1.

Home Secretary has power to exercise discretion in respect both

of individual applications for admission to UK and of certain

applications under nationality legislation. Attention of a number

of people closely connected with present Hong Kong administration

has been drawn to this. Discretion would be used on a very limited

basis for people who have been exposed to special considerations and

special factors. Individual applications under these provisions

will be considered by Home Secretary on their merits in the future,

as in the past.

(Who have been interviewed?)

2. Not prepared to say how these people were selected nor at this

stage numbers involved.

(Are OMELCO members covered by these arrangements?)

3. Not prepared to say who is involved.

SECRET