TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 35

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Mr McLaren replied that there would probably be a debate on the report but that no date had been set. The Government was preparing a response. When it was published we would make sure the Chinese Embassy received a copy.

6. Madame Zhang asked if Mr McLaren could brief her on the proposed nationality package concerning the right of abode in the light of Sir David Wilson's visit to the UK. Mr McLaren said that Ministers had not yet

taken any decisions, but he was happy to go over the background.

7. As Madame Zhang knew there was a widespread campaign to restore the right of abode which all Hong Kong nationals had enjoyed before 1962. The focus of the campaign was the rights of the 3.25m who were either born or naturalised in Hong Kong. An OMELCO delegation was in London this week. They and others arguing for the right of abode said that the people of Hong Kong did not all want to come to the UK. All they wanted was an insurance policy to which they could turn in case of need. The British Government's

response was that

it was simply not practicable to give such an insurance policy to 3.25m people. However, it was our wish to maintain the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, and in order to do that we needed to find ways of giving the people there the confidence to stay on. The Government therefore intended to give the right of abode to certain key people in the public and private sectors who otherwise might be tempted to leave. To date, no decisions had been taken regarding the number, or the categories of people to whom this right would be granted.

8. Madame Zhang asked if a decision would be announced before the Secretary of State visited Hong Kong. Mr McLaren replied that the dates of the visit had not been settled but that he thought Mr Hurd would probably prefer to see an announcement made before his visit.

CC:

Ms Nettleton, ECD (E)

Ms Major, HKD

Mr Johnson, EEPI DTI

Mr Love, OT2/2 DTI

Mr Vereker, UKMis Geneva

Mr Madelin, UKRep Brussels Chancery Beijing

CH2ADP/2