TNAG-2020-FCO40-2882-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Canada-1990 — Page 86

Mr Myerin

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wirl High Commissioner loft wests.

CONFIDENTIÁL

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Mr Burns

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FROM: D H Gillmore W37 270 2156

20 January 1990 PS/Mr Sainsbury PS/Mr Maude

Mr McLaren

Mr Beamish

27 FEB 1990

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INDEX

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CANADA: HONG KONG, CAMBODIA, CHINA

I should report that M Lavertu, the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, called on me at his request on 26 January.

asked for a briefing on Hong Kong China, Cambodia and VBPS!

きょ I spoke to him frankly and gave him a pretty full

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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 hẽ thought the

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us position had reached a point of total incoherence: agreed, 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.

3. On Cambodia, we discussed the recent meeting of the Five in Paris. Mr Lavertu asked for views on the Canadian

I said I thought suggestion for a UN mission to Cambodia. that this was a helpful idea, but premature. More progress would have first to be made towards a UN-sponsored settlement. Perhaps we should look at the idea again after the Jakarta meeting (if this took place) and following the completion of the series of meetings of the Five. I said I thought there might be another after that planned för New York in early February

4 On Hong Kong and the nationality question, Mr Lavertu was

Just as in not encouraging about Canada's ability to help. 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.

J

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