TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 280

RESTRICTED

export market. It is also the largest investor in Hong Kong's

manufacturing industry, although it has recently been overtaken by

Japan in terms of annual investment flows. The United States have accepted and publicly acknowledged (eg at the Paris Economic Summit) that the continuing support of the international community is vital

to maintaining confidence in Hong Kong.

5.

ن

The State Department have told us that they regard our nationality package as a positive step but are still considering

have not yet formulated their response their own response. The Administration's response is taking longer

than expected to emerge because of the need to take account of input

from the Department of Justice, the Immigration and Naturalisation

Service and growing Congressional pressure. Most members of Congress are generally supportive of the United States taking more

people from Hong Kong. But some are also concerned about the implications for the number of Soviet Jews, Armenian refugees etc that the United States could accept

The idea that

should

6. The House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Sub-Committee (chaired by Congressman Solarz) adopted a Resolution last November

calling on the UK to take the lead in developing a multinational safety net "designed to provide a substantial and significant number

of Hong Kong residents with a right of abode outside Hong Kong that

would permit them to remain in Hong Kong after 1997 without forfeiting that right" (A copy of the Resolution is attached.) We regard

as helpful. It This Resolution (is expected to come to the floor of the House before

the end of March. In the meantime, the House Immigration, Re fugees

and International Law Sub-Committee is due to hold hearings on a new

Immigration Bill, including a proposal to increase the annual

immigration quota for Hong Kong to 20,000.

८

7. It is important to keep up the pressure on the US

Admministration and Congress to take positive measures to

demonstrate their support for Hong Kong.

It would be very helpful

if members of the Foreign Affairs Committee could take every opportunity during their visit to press the case for special treatment for Hong Kong.

RESTRICTED