TNAG-2020-FCO40-2882-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Canada-1990 — Page 54

BACKGROUND

CONFIDENTIAL

B.

References: A. Ottawa Telno 857.

Ottawa Telno 031.

C.

D.

Mr Gillmore's minute to Burns of 29 January.

Ottawa Telno 078

E.

FCO Telno 280 to Hong Kong.

es

<

i

1. The Canadians have traditionally taken a large number of immigrants from Hong Kong. Of the 45,000 who emigrated from Hong

The Canadians are concerned

Kong last year, 24,000 went to Canada. that large numbers of Hong Kong people might flee to Canada (claiming ties with relations) if the situation in Hong Kong seriously deteriorated. Partly for this reason, the Canadians have been giving detailed consideration to ways of bolstering Hong Kong's international position. They have set up an inter-departmental committee to examine specific ways in which Canada could help to promote confidence in Hong Kong. These might include allowing the establishment of a Hong Kong Government Office in Toronto; negotiating various bilateral agreements with Hong Kong in various fields; promoting Hong Kong participation in international organisations etc.

2. On the nationality issue, however, Canadian officials do not

hold out any early hope of being able to introduce comparable measures to our own. They have pointed out that if existing nationality legislation were modified to enable Hong Kong people to acquire citizenship without completing the normal residence requirement, this would run counter to the principle of universality of application on which Canadian nationality legislation is based and by appearing to favour one class of potential citizens over another could expose the Government to legal challenge.

3•

Nevertheless Canadian officials have suggested that there might be some flexibility in Canadian immigration rules which could be exploited, eg in relation to the period between acquiring landed status and full citizenship.

4.

Mrs Jean McLuskie; assistant deputy minister in charge of Asia

DAWACI (2)

CONFIDENTIAL