CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 1126
OF 01180OZ DECEMBER
89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB. 01113
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
498
060445
MDHOAN 8915
497
YOUR TELNO 2094: FAC REPORT ON HONG KONG
1.
WE AGREE THAT WE MAY EXPECT A SUSPICIOUS REACTION FROM THE CHINESE TO OUR ATTEMPTS TO PERSUADE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO OFFER ASSURANCES TO HONG KONG PEOPLE SIMILAR TO THOSE WE SHALL BE OFFERING. NONETHELESS WE MUST REFER TO THEM, SINCE THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONFIDENCE BUILDING EFFECT OF OUR OWN PACKAGE.
2.
WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING LINE WITH THE CHINESE, SHOULD THEY EXPRESS CONCERN:
3.
- WE SHALL ALSO BE ENCOURAGING OTHER COUNTRIES TO OFFER
SIMILAR SCHEME OF ASSURANCES.
MUCH OF CURRENT OUTFLOW OF KEY PERSONNEL CAUSED BY
EMIGRATION TO EG CANADA, AUSTRALIA, US
IF WE CAN PERSUADE THESE COUNTRIES TO INTRODUCE
ASSURANCES, WE HOPE TO STEM THAT FLOW.
NO QUESTION OF QUOTE INTERNATIONALISING UNQUOTE THE PROBLEM. THOSE COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN THAT THEY ARE PRIME TARGET
COUNTRIES FOR HONG KONG EMIGRANTS. OUR INTENTION IS TO MAKE THEIR INVOLVEMENT A POSITIVE RATHER THAN NEGATIVE FACTOR.
HURD
-
HAVE NOTED CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN PRESS REPORTS OF COMMENTS BY LI HOU AND LU PING.
-
WOULD CHINESE SIDE LIKE TO ELABORATE THEIR CONCERNS. UNDERSTAND CONCERNS ABOUT DUAL ALLEGIANCE COULD THIS BE DEALT WITH BY OBLIGING OFFICIALS TO SWEAR ALLEGIANCE TO HKSAR?
GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS.
YYYY
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