TNAG-1889-FCO40-2682-Visits-from-Hong-Kong-and-China-to-the-UK-1989 — Page 28

CAEAJK

CONFIDENTIAL

CALL ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY OMELCO DELEGATION: 20 NOVEMBER

1989

Points to Make

A: NATIONALITY

Well aware that

Working urgently on assurances scheme.

announcement is anxiously awaited in Hong Kong. But this is a

complicated matter. No precedence in UK immigration policy. Much

detailed work involved. Scheme will need to be fair and defensible

to Parliament.

Considerable progress has been made. Visit of FCO/Home Office officials last month very useful. Report has now been submitted.

Being carefully considered. Aiming for announcement around turn of

year.

Raised

Meanwhile, rallying international support for Hong Kong.

the matter on a number of occasions (eg Madrid European Council,

Paris Economic Summit and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

in Kuala Lumpur). Also in bilateral contacts with Governments.

Will continue to press international community to provide

clearest possible assurances to help bolster confidence in HK.

[Defensive Points]

Numbers? Will be as generous as possible within the political

and practical constraints.

Assurances must take form of citizenship. Understand arguments

for this. Will give due weight to them in taking decision on form

of assurances.

Right of abode for all Hong Kong people. HMG's position clear

on this. Believe it is increasingly understood and accepted in

Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL