TNAG-1859-FCO40-2634-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 73

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1

1

job of running

Hong

Kong

by

itself. We have sole

responsibility for our internal affairs, such as education,

social welfare and medical services. For the past 20 years

Or SQ, we have made all our own policy decisions in other

important areas such as the economy, trade and finance.

14.

Kingdom.

As a result, we have developed some interests

which are separate from those of the United

Sometimes we have found ourselves on opposite sides of the

negotiating table. In the past year or two, for instance,

we have had to negotiate about the relative shares of costs

incurred by the British Garrison in Hong Kong and we have

had discussions about the part the United Kingdom plays in

resettling Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong. When this

happens, you can be sure that your Government argues hard

on Hong Kong's behalf.

15.

We have also put forward a clear Hong Kong case on

the nationality issue. I have said that I fully understand

sympathise with the widespread hope in Hong Kong that

Britain would grant the right of abode in the United

Kingdom to all Hong Kong British nationals. I have also

said that, in my

view, such a move, if it were possible,

/would

EE

S'I'O

LO:LT TT-OT-686T