TNAG-2159-FCO40-3079-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-Chinese-views-1990 — Page 93

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(109.

155032

MDHIAN 7296

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

HKC 340

RECEIVE IN

- 9 APR 1990

DESK OFFICER

TELNO 1166

INUA

.PA

OF 04120OZ APRIL 90

STRY

.on Taken

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

де

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UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE: CHINESE VIEWS

1. THE PRESS TODAY GAVE NORMAL COVERAGE TO LU PING'S STATEMENT YESTERDAY ON THE UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE. WHILST THE STATEMENT WAS CONSISTENT WITH EARLIER CHINESE REMARKS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POINTS WORTH MENTION:

(A) LU'S ADMISSION THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER A PERSON HOLDS MORE THAN ONE PASSPORT:

(B) IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIAL HAS DEPLOYED THE FACT THAT THE UK RECOGNISES DUAL NATIONALITY AS AN ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF THEIR STAND THAT BENEFICIARIES OF THE PACKAGE WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION:

(C) THE CHINESE MAY BE THINKING OF A REGISTRATION EXERCISE TO DISTINGUISH BC PASSPORTS GRANTED UNDER THE PACKAGE FROM THE REST:

AND

(D) MING PAO NOTED THAT, ALTHOUGH LU PING REITERATED LI HOU'S EARLIER STATEMENT ON NON-RECOGNITION OF BC PASSPORTS GRANTED UNDER THE PACKAGE AS VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTRY INTO AND EXIT FROM THE SAR, LU'S STATEMENT WAS A MUCH TONED DOWN VERSION.

2. RELEVANT ARTICLES FOLLOW BY FAX.

WILSON

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