TNAG-2158-FCO40-3078-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-Chinese-views-1990 — Page 65

SECRET

HKC340 STAY

26 MAR 1999

Pa

110733 MDHOAN 5579

SIKOFAKULT

SECRET

INDEX

PA

FM FCO

REGISTRY Huwon Taken

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

OF CARY

TELNO 623

OF 21175OZ MARCH 90

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

MIPT: UK NATIONALITY SCHEME: BRIEFING THE CHINESE DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE (C) AS FOLLOWS:

CONSISTENCY OF NATIONALITY SCHEME WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA

1.

PARAGRAPH 4 OF JOINT DECLARATION STIPULATES THAT HMG IS RESPONSIBLE UNTIL 30 JUNE 1997 FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG, QUOTE WITH THE OBJECT OF MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING ITS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STABILITY UNQUOTE. THIS PUTS US UNDER AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE SUCH MEASURES AS ARE WITHIN OUR POWER TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE.

2. OUR SCHEME FOCUSSES ON PEOPLE WHO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OR ECONOMY OF HONG KONG. THE SCHEME IS NOT A DEVICE TO CREAM OFF TALENT AND CAPITAL. NOR IS IT DESIGNED TO PRESERVE BRITISH INFLUENCE IN THE TERRITORY AFTER 1997. OUR SOLE AIM IS TO STEM THE OUTFLOW OF TALENT FROM HONG KONG, BY REMOVING THE NEED FOR PEOPLE IN CATEGORIES WITH HIGH RATES OF EMIGRATION TO LEAVE HONG KONG IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THE SECURITY OF A FOREIGN

PASSPORT

3. OUR MEMORANDUM ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION REFERS ONLY TO THE SITUATION ON AND AFTER 1 JULY 1997. IT DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE GRANTING OF CITIZENSHIP BEFORE THAT DATE.

4. (IF CHINESE INSIST THAT GRANTING OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF HONG KONG BDTCS WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED WHEN MEMORANDA ON NATIONALITY WERE NEGOTIATED): THE SITUATION NOW IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT PREVAILING IN 1984. WE HAVE FELT OBLIGED TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION. OUR SCHEME IS A SPECIFIC RESPONSE TO THE PRESENT

SITUATION IN HONG KONG

HURD