Mr Burns
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 340/1
EGISTRY Action Taken
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 24FEB 1990
FROM: DH DESK OFFICER
WAZINDER $156′′
CC:
24 January 1990 PS/Mr Sainsbury PS/Mr Mäude
Mr McLaren
CANADA: HONG KONG, CAMBODIA, CHINA
Mr Beamish
Head HKD
SEAD
1 I should report that M Lavertu,the canadian Deputy High Commissioner, called on me at his request on 26 January. He asked for a briefing on Hong Kong China, Cambodia and VBPS
2. I spoke to him frankly and gave him a pretty full background to our current preoccupations on all three issues. I thanked him for Canadian help över VBPS ät last week's. meeting of the Steering Committee, where thể Canadian delegation had played a positive röle Hề sảid hế thought the US position håd reached a point of total incoherence: I agreed, but pointed out that, notwithstanding the US position, We would have to reach decisions quickly if the UNHCR was unable to persuade the US Administration to move.
2
3. On Cambodia, we discussed the recent meeting of the Fin in Paris. Mr Lavertu asked for views on the Canadian
I said I thought suggestion for a UN mission to Cambodia. that this was a helpful idea, but premature. More progress would have first to be made towards a UN-sponsored settlement. Perhaps we should look at the idea again after the Jakarta meeting (if this took place) and following the completion of the series of meetings of the Five. I said I thought there might be another after that planned for New York In early February
On Hong Kong and the nationality question, Mr Lavertu was
Just as in not encouraging about Canada's ability to help: the UK, modification to Canada's existing nationality law to enable Hong Kong people to acquire Canadian passports without completing a prior residence requirement would need legislation. He thought it unlikely that the Canadian government would consider this; it would undermine the structure of the existing law. I urged him; nonetheless, to encourage his government to examine the possibilities as constructively as possible.
CONFIDENTIAL
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