TNAG-2178-FCO40-3115-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 132

CONFIDENTIAL

FM NEW DELHI

TO DESKBY 31150OZ FCO TELNO 130

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD 3401.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

(43

070174 MDHIAN 4609

2 4 FEB 1990

ARENG KONG

INDEX

PA

INFO ROUTINE ISLAMABAD, HONG KIONG

OF 31120OZ JANUARY 90

(38

ken

FCO TELNO 103: VISIT TO LORD BRABAZON: BRIEFING ON HONG KONG/ INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

1. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF MENTIONS OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE LOCAL PRESS IT HAS NOT GIVEN RISE TO EDITORIAL COMMENT. IT HAS NOT RECENTLY BEEN RAISED WITH US BY INDIANS, OFFICIALLY OR PRIVATELY, AND THE GOI HAVE NOT/NOT EXPRESSED COR, MOST PROBABLY, FORMED) A VIEW ON OUR NATIONALITY PACKAGE FOR HONG KONG.

2.

EITHER

WE HAVE THEREFORE LITTLE TO GO ON IN JUDGING HOW THEY

WOULD RESPOND IF LORD BRABAZON RAISED THE MATTER. BUT MY GUESS IS THAT THE CHANCES OF A POSITIVE INDIAN RESPONSE TO A SUGGESTION THAT THEY SHOULD OFFER HONG KONG INDIANS CITIZENSHIP OR ENTRY CERTIFICATION ARE MINIMAL. ON PAST FORM, THE

PROBABILITY IS THAT THEY REGARD IT AS A PROBLEM FOR US TO SOLVE AND WOULD SEE NO PARTICULAR REASON TO HELP US OUT. INDEED THERE

COULD BE SOME RISK THAT IT WOULD PROMPT THEM TO CRITICISE EG OUR PAST TREATMENT OF EAST AFRICAN BPHS ON THE QUOTA SYSTEM.

3. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND AND GIVEN (TUR) THE RISK THAT THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG MIGHT ITSELF NOT WELCOME SUCH A MOVE,

I WOULD

ADVISE AGAINST LORD BRABAZON RAISING THIS MATTER IN DELHI.

GOODALL

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

59

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

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PS/MR MAUDE PS/LORD BRABAZON

MR GILLMORE

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