TNAG-2118-FCO40-3024-Future-of-Hong-Kong-general-1990 — Page 112

Reference...

Rile

Mr Morris

CHKC040

RECL

14

26 MAR 1998

CALL ON THE SECRETARY QOFCESTATERRY THE FRIENDS OF HONG KONG: 1200,

TUESDAY 13 MARCH-

IN-

приз

"Action

14

1.

Discussions focussed almost entirely on nationality. At the end

of the call, Vice Admiral Sir John Roxburgh asked whether the

contents could be published in the Friends of Hong Kong magazine,

"Monitor". The Secretary of State undertook to write a letter to Dame Jill Knight, covering points raised during the call, which

could be so published.

2. I have recorded below in question and answer form, a summary of the discussion, which you will want to put into "module" language

for a letter. We must bear in mind that the Friends of Hong Kong

and the Monitor magazine are pro-Taiwan. Publication in the Monitor of a letter from the Secretary of State is likely to attract Chinese attention and disapproval. Pro-Taiwan elements may also seek to

re-publish the letter elsewhere. We shall need to draft carefully.

Question 1: Have we come to arrangements with other countries to

offer passports to Hong Kong people?

Answer 1: Our purpose was to anchor people in Hong Kong. Often the aim of countries like Canada or Australia was to draw them away.

However, we were encouraging other countries to follow our example, eg the French, we believed, operated a limited scheme for employees. We would probably report progress in this work when we published our own Bill (the Secretary of State indicated that he had been annoyed. by the recent headline on this subject and had purposely squashed

it).

Question 2: Was there indication of large scale immigration to

these countries at the moment?

Answer 2: The aim of our scheme was to offer passports to encourage people to stay in Hong Kong, not to encourage immigration. In persuading other countries to adopt schemes, the aim was the same.

CODE 18-77

MUKAHL