TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 75

1

3

RESTRICTED

ROBAEY

Mr Dam,

HKD

42

йл

Thank

your

REM

FROM:

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

25/1.

PS/Mr Eggar

Asgar

12 JAN 1988

DATE:

12 January 1988

Cc:

HONG KONG: ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE

PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr McLaren

нко очн 12 044/2

2 7 JAN 1988

1

1.

Mr Eggar has asked for comments on the attached Asian Wall

Street Journal article.

A

B

2. The article is obviously inspired by Mr Martin Lee's letter of

8 December to the Prime Minister. It contains the same arguments

and even echoes some of the phrasing of that letter, but the author

adds his own cynical gloss on British motivation on Hong Kong. Much

of his comment seems to us to be well over the top.

3.

The main thesis is that HMG have caved in to Chinese pressure

against the development of representative government: as a result of

this and other Chinese intervention people in Hong Kong have lost

confidence and are emigrating in unprecedented numbers.

4.

He

Lord Glenarthur's reply to Mr Lee's letter is designed to give

reassurance on HMG's continuing commitment to Hong Kong.

demonstrates that we are carrying out our responsibilities to the

full in the current review of developments in representative

government.

5. We are well aware of emigration trends in Hong Kong: these have gone up substantially to about 37,000 in 1987, from about 22,000 in 1986. There are many reasons for this, including increased. emigration opportunities in some leading recipient countries,

particularly Canada and Australia. Concern about the future must be

one factor in influencing people's decisions to emigrate, but it is

RESTRICTED

Page 75Page 76