TNAG-1991-FCO40-2831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Nationality-(Hong-Kong)-Selectio-1990 — Page 164

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CHEB 301/1

192

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FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

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INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA

PART ONE OF TWO PARTS

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP.

SUMMARY:

1.

THE NATIONALITY ISSUE DOMINATED MEDIA COVERAGE DURING THE WEEK. CHINA'S ACCUSATION OF BRITAIN'S ATTEMPTS TO INTERNATIONALISE THE HK QUESTION WAS ACCORDED PROMINENT COVERAGE IN THE MEDIA. THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO LONDON AND NEWS RELATING TO THE BASIC LAW WAS ALSO GIVEN A GOOD RUN IN THE PRESS.

2.

THE MEDIA (20-21.11) ACCORDED GOOD COVERAGE TO THE ACTIVITIES OF AN OMELCO DELEGATION TO LONDON TO LOBBY FOR THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK FOR HK PEOPLE. MOST REPORTS QUOTED THE LEADER OF THE DELEGATION, SENIOR LEGCO MEMBER ALLEN LEE, AS SAYING THAT BRITAIN HAD THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO GRANT THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK TO HK PEOPLE. REPORTS NOTED THAT THE DELEGATION HAD MET THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOUGLAS HURD, AND HELD DISCUSSIONS ON THE ISSUE.

3.

REPORTS NOTED THE DELEGATION WOULD ASK THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO PASS ON THEIR VIEWS ON THE BASIC LAW TO THE PARTIES CONCERNED AND WOULD ALSO HOLD TALKS WITH BRITISH OFFICIALS ON THE VBP PROBLEM.

4.

ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY PRICE WATERHOUSE AND COMMISSIONED BY HONOUR HK CAMPAIGN, OVER 350 000 PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE HK IN THE RUN-UP TO 1997, THE HK ECONOMIC JOURNAL (20. 11) REPORTED. ASSUMING THAT THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE IN EACH FAMILY, THE SURVEY SAID HK WOULD NEED ONE MILLION FOREIGN PASSPORTS TO PREVENT ITS DEVELOPMENT FROM BEING HAMPERED BY THE BRAIN DRAIN.

5. THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID THAT INCREASES OF IMMIGRATION QUOTAS FOR HK PEOPLE BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES

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