TNAG-2158-FCO40-3078-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-Chinese-views-1990 — Page 88

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(b) allaying their concerns, eg about the allegiance of public

servants;

(c) seeking clarification from them of the status of

beneficiaries of the scheme under the Chinese nationality law.

6.

A recent article in the Hong Kong Chinese language press (which

may have been inspired from Peking) is mildly encouraging. It

suggests that the Chinese Government would be ready to set up our

organisation in the Hong Kong SAR to handle renunciation of (and

applications for) Chinese nationality; and hints at a possible

willingness to regard beneficiaries of the package as foreign

nationals, provided the formalities of renunciation of Chinese

nationality have been completed. The MFA statement of 1 March also

refers to those renunciation procedures. We shall need to find

opportunities to probe Chinese thinking on these matters.

BATACE

ARPanc

A R Paul

CONFIDENTIAL