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075024
MDHIAN 2037
OF PEOPLE WOULD GO TO THE UNITED KINGDOM THAT IS THE SO-CALLED ARMAGEDDON SCENARIO, THEN OF COURSE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO EITHER THE UNITED KINGDOM OR TO SOME OTHER COUNTRIES. THE INFERENCE ON DRAWS FROM THAT IS THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE WE HAVE TO BE IN A POSITION TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WOULD INDEED WISH TO LEAVE HONG KONG.
SIR, I BELIEVE THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE GRANTING RIGHT OF ABODE TO BRITISH NATIONALS IN HONG KONG ARE FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED. BUT THE POLITICAL ARGUMENTS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. BRITAIN IS A DEMOCRACY AND IN A DEMOCRACY THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE AS EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES MUST PREVAIL. IF WE FAIL TO CONVINCE THE PEOPLE OF THE UK AND BRITISH PARLIAMENT OF THE STRENGTH OF OUR CASE WE WILL MAKE LITTLE PROGRESS. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THEREFORE THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER IN ALL OUR CAMPAIGNING THAT OUR AIM MUST BE TO GAIN THE SUPPORT AND SYMPATHY OF BRITISH PEOPLE AND BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. HOWEVER STRONGLY WE MAY FEEL ON PARTICULAR ISSUES, OUR INTEREST LIES IN KEEPING BRITISH SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG IN THE DIFFICULT YEARS THAT LIE AHEAD. NOTHING WE DO HERE SHOULD RUN COUNTER TO THAT MAIN OBJECTIVE AND CERTAINLY WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO AVOID DAMAGING THE WELL EARNED REPUTATION OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AS HARDWORKING, PEACEABLE AND FRIENDLY MEMBERS OF ANY COMMUNITY.
SIR, SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE FAC REPORT MINISTERS HAVE INDICATED PUBLICLY THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE A SCHEME WHICH WILL MAKE SOME PROVISION FOR PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. ALTHOUGH THE DETAILS ARE NOT CLEAR, WE ASSUME THAT THE SCHEME IS AIMED AT THOSE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE MIGRATE TO OTHER COUNTRIES. THE DECISION TO IMPLEMENT THESE ARRANGEMENTS IS ONE FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT BUT WE HAVE TO PUT TO THEM MOST STRONGLY THREE POINTS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION IN DEVISING ANY SCHEME. FIRST, IF IT IS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN STEMMING THE FLOW OF TALENTED PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG IT MUST BE GENEROUS IN TERMS OF NUMBERS. SECONDLY, THE DIVISIVENESS WHICH IS INHERENT IN ANY LIMITED SCHEME SHOULD BE REDUCED TO A MINIMUM. THIRDLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ANY SCHEME SHOULD HAVE AS ITS OBJECTIVES THE NEED TO RETAIN PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
SIR, I THINK IT WOULD BE CHURLISH TO SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD REASSURE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE AND MIGHT INDEED HELP TO STEM THE INCREASED OUTFLOW OF PEOPLE WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE AN INEVITABLE
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