TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 104

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 2155

OF 20180OZ OCTOBER 89

467

100412 MDHOAN 6070

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB

011/3

TOP COPY Q DIST?

3111 مل

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING, BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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PART TWO OF TWO

MIPT: FAC REPORT ON HONG KONG

BRITISH POLICY AND ACTIONS

PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE TO UK AND TO BRITISH INTERESTS:

AGREED.

BRITAIN SHOULD MAINTAIN RELATIONS WITH PRC BUT NOT HESITATE TO BE ROBUST, ESPECIALLY OVER HUMAN RIGHTS:

AGREED.

FCO MINISTERS SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PRESENT BRITISH VIEWS AND POLICIES VIGOROUSLY TO HONG KONG, TO LISTEN TO VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THOSE VIEWS:

G

AGREED.

DECISION ON SITE FOR FUTURE CONSULATE GENERAL LONG

1

OVERDUE:

WORK ON THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY BUT NO DECISION REACHED. HMS TAMAR SHOULD BECOME CONSULATE-GENERAL:

NOT POSSIBLE. IF NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR MILITARY USE, SITE REVERTS TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNDER TERMS OF DCA. WRONG CONNOTATIONS IF SUCH A SITE USED FOR CONSULATE.

NATIONALITY

HMG SHOULD TAKE LEAD AT EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH WITH OTHER COUNTRIES DEFINITE GUARANTEES FOR ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG IF NEEDED:

-

HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT IN QUOTE ARMAGEDDON SCENARIO UNQUOTE WOULD SEEK TO MOBILISE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THEREFORE RIGHT TO CONSIDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING NOW AND TALK TO INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. BUT AIM MUST BE TO TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE PEOPLE WILL WISH TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG. WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RALLY ROUND HONG KONG TO HELP RESTORE CONFIDENCE, NOT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LEAVE.

GIVE ASSURANCES TO SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF KEY PERSONNEL TO ENABLE THEM TO HAVE CONFIDENCE TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG. ASSURANCES (TO BE GIVEN ESPECIALLY TO THOSE IN PUBLIC LIFE) WOULD ALLOW THEM TO COME TO UK TO SETTLE WITHOUT IMMIGRATION CONTROL, AT 1997 OR AFTER, BEFORE, AT OR AFTER RETIREMENT:

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL