FILE
231
HCD 243/5
onus
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FROM: AR PAUL
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 9 December 1988
cc: PS/Mr Eggar
PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren o.r.
SEAD
PS/Lord Glenarthur
Private Secretary
UND
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG/CITIZENSHIP FOR HONG KONG
BUSINESSMEN
1.
I have been in touch with Home Office officials about Mr
Powell's letter of 8 December about citizenship for Hong Kong businessmen. They are pleased that the Prime Minister accepts that it would not be practical to amend existing legislation and they believe that it should not be too difficult to answer her various points satisfactorily. They are also encouraged to note that the liklihood of a meeting to discuss the subject appears less strong
than previously.
2. The Home Office will draft a reply early next week, consulting us as appropriate. It is now clear tht it will not be necessary for you to respond at this stage to Mr Powell's earlier letter of 5 December and the draft attached to my minute of today's date to PS/Lord Glenarthur can be set aside, at least for the time being.
3. We will keep in close touch with the Home Office. I recommend that as soon as their reply issues, we should, as before, write in
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