TNAG-2017-FCO40-2879-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Singapore-1990 — Page 27

VISIT OF GOH CHOK TONG, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, SINGAPORE,

19-23 APRIL

HONG KONG

Points to Make

HKB 0207

RL

12 APR 1990

DESA

INDEX

FILE

A

Nationality

Very much welcomed Singapore permanent residence scheme announced

last July. Helpful contribution to maintaining confidence in Hong

Kong. Is Singapore planning to extend this scheme or to introduce

any new measures for other categories.

Encouraging that a number of countries (eg. France, FRG,

Belgium) have now found ways of giving Hong Kong people assurances

without their having to leave territory.

Draft legislation to implement our own nationality package was

published on 4 April and had its second reading on 19 April.

Passage of legislation will be difficult but confident that it will

be approved.

Relations with China over Hong Kong

Hope we are over the worst of the recent period of public differences with China over Hong Kong. We are keen to get back to

cooperative relations.

Would welcome help in underlining to Chinese need to maintain

confidence in both Hong Kong for its own sake and in interests of

regional stability.

Basic Law (if raised)

Promulgation of Basic Law an important landmark in laying

foundations for Hong Kong's future status.

FAYANY (1)