Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 959
OF 1911152 MARCH 90
HKC3401
IN
26 MAR 1999
TRY
REGISTRY
Auton Taken
INPO IMMEDIATE PEKING, OKREP JEG HONG KONG
174
077017 MOHIAN 1895
Pami 19/3
Рамн
MY SECOND IPT: UK NATIONALITY SCHEME : CHINESE VIEWS
SPEAKING NOTE ON CHINESE SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE SCHEME AS AN ATTEMPT TO EXTEND MMG INFLUENCE AFTER 1997
BEGINS
*
2. WE HAVE EXPLAINED THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO CONCLUDE THAT THE PRESENT NATIONALITY SCHEME SHOULD BE INTRODUCED. THE SOLE AIM OF THE SCHEME IS TO PROVIDE TO KEY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE REASSURANCE NECESSARY TO PERSUADE THEM TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG. THERE IS NO OTHER ULTERIOR MOTIVE AND ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT SEEKING TO USE THE SCHEME AS A MEANS OF RETAINING INFLUENCE OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUTURE HONG KONG SAR. NO ONE WITH ANY UNDERSTANDING OF BRITISH POLITICS WOULD THINK THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE ON SUCH A DIFFICULT TASK IN PARLIAMENTARY TERMS IN ORDER TO RETAIN INFLUENCE IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.
3. THE SCHEME WILL BE OPEN TO CIVIL SERVANTS BECAUSE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE STABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG THAT KEY MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION REMAIN IN THEIR POSTS UPTO AND BEYOND 1997. A DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL CIVIL SERVICE HAS BEEN A CORNER-STONE OF STABLE AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO.
4. AS FOR ALLEGIANCE, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR NATIONALITY, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OWE THEIR LOYALTY EXCLUSIVELY TO HONG KONG. THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW
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CONFIDENTIAL
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