SECRET
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 729
OF 280824Z APRIL 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
SECRET
PRD 310/8
021435
MDHIAN 2641
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT.
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR.
117)
113
HONG KONG TELNOS 1283, 1284 AND 1311.
NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS.
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1 PARA 7 OF FIRST TUR INVITED MY VIEWS ON CHINA'S REACTIONS
ON A LIMITED EXTENSION OF THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO THE UK.
2.
AS BACKGROUND, AT THE MEETING BETWEEN ZHOU NAN AND THE F A C, WHICH I ATTENDED ON 25 APRIL, MR. ROWLANDS ASKED IF CHINA WOULD MIND IF H M G GAVE THE ''INSURANCE'' ON RIGHT OF ABODE WHICH WAS
TROUBLING A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. ZHOU NAN PRESSED MR. ROWLANDS TO BE MORE SPECIFIC AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS REFERRING TO ALLOWING MORE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS RIGHT OF
ACCESS AND ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. ZHOU NAN THEN REPLIED
THAT THIS WAS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND
HE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THAT.
3.
ZHOU NAN'S REACTION IS IN LINE WITH OTHER COMMENTS CONFIRMING
THAT CHINA FULLY ACCEPTS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UNTIL 1997.
4.
J
AT THE 'WASH "P" SESSION AT MY HOUSE ON 25 APRIL, MR. ROWLANDS REFERRED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM MEMORANDUM IN THE
JOINT DECLARATION PROHIBITING THE CONFERRING OF RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO THOSE ACQUIRING BN (0) STATUS'' AND
ASKED WHAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW WOULD BE IF BRITAIN
WERE TO SOFTEN ITS POLICY ON RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
FOR PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. HIS POINT WAS THAT SINCE IT WAS WRITTEN
INTO PART OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THE CHINESE MIGHT INSIST ON THE
LETTER OF THE LAW BEING CARRIED OUT. IN REPLY, I SAID THAT THE CHINESE, WHO WERE OFTEN INFLEXIBLE ON MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE, COULD BE PRAGMATIC ON MORE CONCRETE MATTERS. THE F A C HAD HEARD HAN
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