UNCLASSIFIED
043137
88
MDHIAN
POSSIBLE TO GRANT THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN BRITAIN TO ALL HONG KONG BRITISH NATIONALS. INSTEAD IT HAS PROMISED A SCHEME UNDER WHICH THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK WILL BE GRANTED TO SOME PEOPLE IN HONG KONG IN A WAY DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY IN THE TERRITORY. WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT WORK IS GOING AHEAD AS FAST AS IT CAN ON SUCH A SCHEME. I HOPE THAT THE DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TO HAVE THE EFFECT WE ALL WANT ON MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL STABILITY, THE SCHEME WILL NEED TO COVER THREE IMPORTANT POINTS. IT WILL NEED TO BE AS GENEROUS AS POSSIBLE: IT WILL NEED TO MINIMIZE DIVISIVENESS, SO FAR AS POSSIBLE: AND IT WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT THOSE COVERED CAN ACQUIRE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE
HONG KONG,
17. I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THE SCHEME, WHEN IT IS ANNOUNCED, WILL HELP TO PROVIDE A GREATER CONFIDENCE AND STABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. MEANWHILE IT CANNOT BE RIGHT TO SAY THAT WE WANT EITHER EVERYTHING OR NOTHING: A SCHEME THAT PROVIDES SOMETHING MUST BE BETTER THAN NO SCHEME AT ALL.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
59
DISTRIBUTION
62
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH (FE)
NEWS D
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
MR MOSS
PUSD
ADDITIONAL
3
MR EDWARDS LEGAL ADV
MR WHOMERSLEY LEGAL ADV
NNN N
MR FIFOOT HKD
PAGE
2
UNCLASSIFIED
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