TNAG-1845-FCO40-2620-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 116

1889-03-23 13:54 3.1.5

33 P.38

Governor:

Hong Kong was a place which, they wished to in. which they enjoyed being in. and where they could be successful if should have they should stay and if they didn't feel that that they the freedom to move. because the thought of Hong Kong in which

no alternative there simply because there was were kept

prosperous Hong Kong that necessarily a happy, successful,

to see.

people

we all want

0:

If you do get a smooth transfer in 1997 would you

to Hong Kong ? expect а lot of new emigrant to come back

there

are

2

is reckoned.

Governor:

We've got at the moment as you were mentioning

It number of people who do come back to Hong Kong.

of Our cent that some 80 per ΤΟ statistics. although

Chinese from Canadian population. which is quite large. are ethnic

If Hong Kong goes on being so there is a steady move back. Hong Kong. economically successful and à pleasant place to live then I hope

those people will come back and we would certainly welcome

I do believe that success. and contribute to its to come to Hong Kong

looking there are very many people who at the moment leave Hong Kong

didn' they an insurance policy who would much rather that They would much rather stay in Hong Kong.

for

30.

people

have

Why do they have to?

Governor:

that many of the The point I was making was

policy form of an insurance people go because they are seeking some

an insurance and many of those people would prefer rather they had policy without having to leave.

0:

A large number of people in Hong Kong feel thes difficult some of the most have nowhere to go. which raises

to address and indeed you have issues that we have

that's the nationality issue. Perhaps some questions on that.

to deal with dail: if Mr. Joplin would

+

Jopin:

representations

Because

I

Suppose

we've

any

had other

mor

issue

on this particular issue than on

has a mcza We've been told by various people that United Kingdom

We've had phrases like obligation here to the people of Hong Kong.

We've heard this not only from Hong Kon debt of honour put before us.

we've bee we've heard it again from British expatriates. nationals. told for instance that for the last 140 years Britain has

see thi the inhabitants of Hong Kong as far as possible to think and behave a

tell us how you British subjects. Would you like first to problem. whether you feel they've got a point and how widely you it's felt?

encourage

tee

27