TNAG-1967-FCO40-2799-Confidence-building-measures-for-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 7

CONFIDENTIAL

MKD 091 /R

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 2856

OF 291015Z AUGUST 89

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

25

065774 MDLIAN 6385

PERSONAL FOR PAUL FROM THE ACTING GOVERNOR

HONG KONG : CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES

THE FOLLOWING LIST REFLECTS OUR INITIAL THINKING. THE CPU IS

WORKING ON AN EVEN MORE EXOTIC LIST.

RIGHT OF ABODE

2. THIS NEEDS LITTLE INTRODUCTION. CERTAINLY THE KEY IS TO COME UP WITH A GENEROUS PACKAGE. BUT I DO NOT AGREE WITH BTC THAT ANYTHING

SHORT OF ROA FOR ALL WILL BE GREETED WITH GLOOM AND HOSTILITY. A

GENEROUS PACKAGE WOULD GO DOWN EXTREMELY WELL.

IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES

3. ALLOWING HOLDERS OF BDTC AND BN (0) PASSPORTS TO USE CHANNELS RESERVED FOR BRITISH NATIONALS AT UK PORTS OF ENTRY WOULD BE GREATLY

WELCOMED.

HIGHER PROFILE IN DEALING WITH CHINA

4. CONFIDENCE WOULD BE ENHANCED BY BRITAIN BEING SEEN TO STAND UP

ROBUSTLY FOR THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE IN ALL ITS DEALINGS

WITH THE CHINESE.

UNDERWRITING COST OF VBPS

5. UK'S VOLUNTEERING TO MEET THE TOTAL COST OF HANDLING THE VBP PROBLEM WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT. SUMS SO FAR OFFERED, WHILE APPRECIATED, HAVE BEEN COMPARED UNFAVOURABLY WITH THE ENORMOUS COST BORNE BY HONG KONG. ASSISTANCE IN KIND THROUGH MILITARY MEDICAL AND ENGINEERING PERSONNEL WOULD ALSO BE WELCOMED, AS WOULD AGREEMENT TO DEPLOY THE ARMY IN RUNNING CAMPS E.G. TAKING OVER THE WHOLE SOKOS

OPERATION.

PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL