O FUSION DURING WHICH NO ONE WILL KNOW WHETHER THEY WILL OR WILL
RECEIVE BRITISH NATIONALITY WE ARE CREATING INSTABILITY AND SOWING CONFUSION AND THUS UNDERMINING THE JD.
√(IV)
WE ARE MAKING A MAJOR DEPARTURE FROM PREVIOUS POLICY WITHOUT PROPER CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE.
(V)
WE ARE CREATING DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CHINESE IN RESPECT OF THEIR OWN NATIONALITY LAW.
5.
WITH THIS IN MIND WE SUGGEST THE MAIN LINES OF OUR APPROACH TO THEM SHOULD BE:
A) WE FACE A MAJOR PROBLEM OF EMIGRATION WHICH THREATENS SERIOUSLY TO UNDERMINE HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY, AND IF NOT CHECKED IS LIKELY TO MAKE IT UNGOVERNABLE. PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN ACQUIRE OTHER NATIONALITIES AND THUS A FORM OF INSURANCE./ THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE IN THE PAST UNDERSTOOD WHY IT WAS NATURAL THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CRAVE SUCH INSURANCE. THIS PACKAGE IS DESIGNED TO REMOVE THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE HONG KONG AND THUS TO KEEP THEM AT THEIR POSTS. THE WRONG RESPONSE FROM CHINA WOULD SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
B)
THE SCHEME IS NOT SIMPLY OR EVEN PREDOMINANTLY AIMED AT THE CIVIL SERVICE. TWO THIRDS OF THE TOTAL IS LIKELY TO GO TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. OF COURSE IT WOULD NOT BE POLITICALLY POSSIBLE OR SENSIBLE TO EXCLUDE THE CIVIL SERVICE: THERE IS INDEED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH EMIGRATION THERE TOO. WHICH, IF NOT SOMEHOW CONTAINED, WILL SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.
AS THE CHINESE RECOGNISE, HONG KONG IS AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE. THERE ARE ALREADY LARGE NUMBERS OF CHINESE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WITH FOREIGN PASSPORTS (NOT BDTC PASSPORTS), BOTH IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. THE PACKAGE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER, BUT IT IS A CHANGE IN QUANTITY NOT QUALITY.
D) THE JD MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THERE CAN BE FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE SAR PUBLIC SERVICE, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN POSTS. WE ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT SUCH PERSONS WOULD OWE THEIR LOYALTY TO THE SARG. THE JD LAYS DOWN THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE SARG.
E) AS THE CHINESE WILL HAVE SEEN, THIS WAS NOT A POPULAR POLITICAL MOVE IN BRITAIN. IT IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE UNDERTAKEN LIGHTLY. WE ARE NOT DOING IT IN ORDER TO RETAIN INFLUENCE IN HONG KONG, OR FOR OTHER NATIONAL ADVANTAGE, BUT BECAUSE WE CAN SEE NO OTHER WAY OF KEEPING THE PEOPLE CONCERNED IN HONG KONG UNTIL AND AFTER 1997 AND THAT FULFILLING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE JOINT OBJECTIVE OF MAKING A SUCCESS OF THE
1984 ARRANGEMENTS.
F) (IN ANSWER TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT LACK OF CONSULTATION) AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT POLITICAL DECISION IN THE UK, SO IMPORTANT THAT IT COULD BE DECIDED ONLY CABINET. ONCE THAT HAD HAPPENED ESSENTIAL TO PUT IT TO PARLIAMENT IMMEDIATELY, TO PREVENT FURTHER / DAMAGING SPECULATION. WE INFORMED CHINESE SIDE AT JLG XIII THAT
THIS PACKAGE WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION/CHINESE SIDE HAVE NOT RESPONDED. IN ANSWER TO BRITISH MPS, WHO ASKED WHEN VISITING PEKING, CHINESE VICE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN MARCH SAID IT
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