Mr Burns
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: D H Gillmore W37 270 2156
CC:
20 Tangary 1990 PS/Mr Sainsbury PS/Mr Maude
Mr McLaren
Mr Beamish
Head HKD
SEAD
MUNANADA: HONG KONG;
CAMBODIA, CHINA
I should report that M Lavertu, the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, called on me at his request on 26 January. He asked for a briefing on Hong Kong/China, Cambodia and VBPS:
2.
I spoke to him frankly and gave him a pretty full background to our current preoccupations on all three issues. I thanked him for Canadian help over VBPs at last week's meeting of the Steering Committee, where the Canadian délégation had played a positive role: He said he thought the US position had reached a point of total incoherence. agréel, but pointed out that, notwithstanding the US position, We would have to reach decisions quickly if the UNHCR was unable to persuade the US Administration to move.
I
3. On Cambodia, we discussed the recent meeting of the Fi in Paris. Mr Lavertu asked for views on the Canadian
suggestion for a UN mission to Cambodia. I said I thought that this was a helpful idea, but premature. More progress would have first to be made towards a UN-sponsored settlement. Pert pa ve should look at the idea again after the Jakarta me t n (if this took place) and following the completion of the ies of meetings of the Five. I sai I thought there
be another after that planned for York in early
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migi
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February:
4: On Hong Kong and the nationality question, Mr Lavertu was not encouraging about Canada's ability to help. Just as in the UK, modification to Canada's existing nationality law to enable Hong Kong people to acquire Canadian passports without Completing a prior residence requirement would need legislation. "He thought it unlikely that the Canadian government would consider this; it would undermine the structure of the existing law. I urged him, nonetheless, to encourage his government to examine the possibilities as constructively as possible.
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