TNAG-2178-FCO40-3115-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 177

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THAT THAILAND'S MAIN INTEREST LAY IN KEEPING HONG KONG JUST AS IT IS. HE SAID AS MUCH FOUR MONTHS AGO WHEN VISITING HONG KONG BUT ALSO MADE THE POINT THAT, IF THINGS DID NOT GO AS PLANNED, IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO WASTE THE HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES INVESTED IN HONG KONG. BUT THAILAND WOULD NOT ADOPT THE PREDATORY MEASURES TAKEN BY E.G. SINGAPORE.

5. KORN SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE AND INDEED SAW AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR FRIENDS OF HONG KONG LIKE BRITAIN AND THAILAND TO DISCUSS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN AFTER 1997.

6. I PRESSED HIM AGAIN ON THE POSSIBILITY OF THAILAND ADOPTING A SIMILAR POLICY TO THAT ANNOUNCED BY HMG BUT HE WOULD NOT BE DRAWN.

COMMENT

7. I DOUBT WHETHER THE THAIS WILL COME UP WITH ANYTHING POSITIVE ON THE QUESTION OF EXTENDING CITIZENSHIP TO HONG KONGERS. KORN IS LIKELY TO VISIT BRITAIN AS A CATEGORY I VISITOR IN MARCH AND IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TALKING TO HIM AGAIN THEN. HE IS THE BEST INTER LOCUTEUR AVAILABLE AMONG THE THAI MINISTERS AND, BEING CHATICHAI'S NEPHEW, HAS THE EAR OF THE PRIME MINISTER.

8. I HOPE THAT LORD BRABAZON WILL FEEL ABLE TO TAKE UP THIS ISSUE WITH THAI MINISTERS DURING HIS VISIT AT THE END OF THE WEEK TO REINFORCE THE APPROACHES WE HAVE MADE.

MELHUISH

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MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

MR BLATHERWICK

MR MOSS

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