TNAG-2160-FCO40-3080-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-Chinese-views-1990 — Page 26

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 28090OZ FCO

TELNO 2375

OF 280725Z JULY 90

AND TO DESKBY 28090OZ PEKILG.

RESTRICTED

HKC340

140/1

3 0 JUL 1990

TRY

ISTRY

..Taker.

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

160

010434

MDHIAN 0533

FCO FOR RESIDENT CLERK AND DUTY OFFICER, NEWS DEPARTMENT

PEKING 1091 AND 1092: BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT: CHINESE PRESS

RELEASE

1 I SUGGEST THAT WE KEEP OUR ON THE RECORD RESPONSE TO THIS PRESS

RELEASE BRIEF. IT MIGHT BE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

'THE CHINESE POSITION ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME IS WELL KNOWN. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THEY HAVE NOT YET FULLY UNDERSTOOD THE POINTS ON IT WHICH WE HAVE BEEN MAKING TO THEM, INCLUDING DURING MR MAUDE'S VISIT. ITS ONLY AIM IS TO PROVIDE ASSURANCES TO KEEP PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO ARE OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE TO MAINTAINING ITS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE LONG RUN.'

2. AS BACKGROUND, THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS MIGHT BE MADE:

I THE PURPOSE OF MR MAUDE'S VISIT WAS TO PUT RELATIONS ON A BETTER FOOTING SO THAT WE COULD DISCUSS SENSIBLY ISSUES ON WHICH WE HAVE

DIFFERENCES.

CHINA APPEARS TO BE RE-STATING ITS OLD POSITION FOR THE RECORD. IT

IS DISAPPOINTING THAT IN DOING SO IT HAS NOT CORRECTED PREVIOUS INACCURACIES IN QUOTING FROM THE BRITISH MEMORANDUM. THIS MEMORANDUM REFERS TO THOSE WHO ARE BDTCS ON 30 JUNE 1997. IT REMAINS OF COURSE A MATTER FOR THE UK WHETHER TO GRANT FULL BRITISH

CITIZENSHIP TO SOME BDTCS BEFOREHAND.

THE STATEMENT THAT CHINESE CITIZENS MUST NOT USE BRITISH CITIZEN PASSPORTS FOR ENTRY INTO AND EXIT FROM THE SAR IS ODD. THE JOINT DECLARATION MAKES CLEAR THAT RESIDENTS OF THE SAR MAY USE TRAVEL DOCUMENT ISSUED BY OTHER STATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE SAR.'

3. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT YOU DECIDE BY DESKBY TELEGRAM AS SOON AS

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