TNAG-1891-FCO40-2684-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 89

BY COURIER

23 June 1989

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Ps/Lord Gucache

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Conservatives Abroad

Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

UNITED KINGDOM

Nttrumed

Our Ref: PBP/CA

HKB 026/20

2016

Dear Sir Geoffrey,

I enclose for your interest a letter of mine which was published in the South China Morning Post on Monday. As you will note, my basic points were that it is unrealistic to expect the British Government to grant UK right of abode to the 3.25 million BDTCs as an immediate reaction to the Peking atrocities, and thereafter to indicate alternative ways of restoring confidence in Hong Kong, namely introducing the Bill of Human Rights, quickening the introduction of democratic institutions and internationalising the whole issue of Hong Kong post-1997, on the basis that Hong Kong is too important an issue to be subject of merely bilateral agreements between the UK and China (particularly with the logistical advantage being so much with China).

I believe that most of the points I make are in accordance with the UK Government's current thinking, except possibly the last point. My personal view is that the current 'right of abode' campaign is essentially an emotional release of pent-up fears and frustrations, and wholly understandable as such. I do not however believe it is directly relevant to the question of maintaining the stability and integrity of Hong Kong post-1997, and in particular I am not convinced that granting UK right of abode to millions of Hong Kong citizens will stem the 'brain drain' to Canada and Australia in particular. It is highly likely that a Hong Kong person who has the opportunity would prefer to become a Canadian citizen, migrating in his/her own time frame as one of say 250,000 - 500,000, rather than to be one of several millions who might have to take up right of abode in the UK when events dictate.

The above comments are all very much my personal views. Other members of Conservatives Abroad in Hong Kong doubtless share those views, but many others I am aware of strongly support the right of abode campaign. The political problem of course is to reject the right of abode concept without appearing uncaring. It is in this

UNITED KINGDOM CONSERVATIVES ABROAD (HONG KONG) Registered Office: 12th Floor, 11 Duddell Street, Hong Kong.