CONFIDENTIAL
023037
CONFIDENTIAL
FM OTTAWA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 031
OF 16232OZ JANUARY 90
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, BTC HONG KONG, HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 87 TO WASHINGTON:
HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
SUMMARY
1. EARLIER LOBBYING OF CANADIANS REINFORCED AND WILL CONTINUE. CANADIANS REMAIN CHARY FOR POLITICAL AND LEGAL REASONS OF ANY INROADS INTO PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSAL APPLICATION OF THEIR IMMIGRATION AND VISA RULES.
DETAIL
2.
I TOOK ACTION ON 16 JANUARY WITH CHRETIEN, ASSOCIATE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE, DEA DEPUTY PUS EQUIVALENT), AND WILL REINFORCE WHEN I SEE THE SECRETARY TO THE CABINET LATER THIS WEEK. I AM ALSO PRESSING WITH CHRETIEN'S SUPPORT FOR A CALL ON MRS MACDOUGALL, MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION.
3. I REHEARSED THE POINTS MADE EARLIER BY MY DEPUTY COUR TELNO 857 OF 23 DECEMBER) AND LEFT A SPEAKING NOTE EMPHASISING THAT WHAT WAS NEEDED NOW WAS SOME MEANS OF REASSURING PEOPLE ABOUT FUTURE RIGHTS OF ABODE WITHOUT THEIR HAVING TO LEAVE HONG KONG NOW. CHRETIEN SAID HE WOULD ENSURE THAT MR CLARK WAS BRIEFED ON YOUR CONCERNS, CHRETIEN, WHO WAS SUPPORTED BY STEWART (DIRECTOR GENERAL, CONSULAR AND IMMIGRATION AFFAIRS) WAS SYMPATHETIC. HOWEVER HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL AND LEGAL DIFFICULTIES WHICH PREVENTED CANADA FROM TAKING MEASURES SIMILAR TO OUR OWN. CANADA'S IMMIGRATION QUOTAS WERE FIXED BY PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. A CORNERSTONE OF CANADA'S IMMIGRATION AND VISA POLICY WAS THE CONCT OF UNIVERSALITY OF APPLICATION. THE IDEA OF GIVING OPEN-ENDED VIS TO RESIDENTS OF ANY COUNTRY RAN COUNTER TO BOTH THESE PRACTICES. NY FAVOURING OF ONE CLASS OF POTENTIAL CITIZENS OVER ANOTHER WOULD LE LIABLE TO LEGAL CHALLENGE UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.
STEWART SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS ALREADY SOME FLEXIBILITY IN CANADIAN IMMIGRATION RULES WHICH COULD BE OF BENIFIT TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND WHICH COULD PERHAPS BE FURTHER EXPLOITED TO ADVANTAGE, IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN ACQUIRING LANDED IMMIGRANT STATUS AND FULL CITIZENSHIP. HIGGINBOTHAM (CANADA'S COMMISSIIONER IN HONG KONG) HAD
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