TNAG-2179-FCO40-3116-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 25

CONFIDENTIAL

UK COMMS ONLY

FM WASHINGTON

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 693

OF 240007Z MARCH 90

1385

CONFIDENTIAL UK COMMS ONLY

ако

34011

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

27 MAR 1990

120527

MDHIAN 2737

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

INFO PRIORITY OTTAWA, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON PARIS, BOİN

INFO PRIORITY THE HAGUE, COPENHAGEN, LUXEMBOURG, ROME, BRUSSELS INFO PRIORITY OSLO STOCKHOLM, GIBRALTAR, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE PEKING, JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, TOKYO, LISBON

SIC

114)

YOUR TELNO 605 TO HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

SUMMARY

1.

THE POSSIBILITY OF NEW IMMIGRATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE ADMINISTRATION, AND IN CONGRESS. BUT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL RESISTANCE IN BOTH TO MAKING HONG KONG A SPECIAL CASE. RECOMMEND THE PM RAISES

THIS WITH PRESIDENT BUSH IN BERMUDA.

DETAIL

2.

WE HAVE KEPT IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS ON THIS. THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE RAISED THE MATTER DURING THEIR MEETING WITH LAMBERTSON (STATE DEPARTMENT) ON 19 MARCH. THEY WERE TOLD THAT AN OFFICIAL-LEVEL TASK FORCE HAD BEEN FORMED TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, BUT WERE WARNED THAT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG WERE LEGISLATIVELY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY DIFFICULT. ON THE HILL THE TIMETABLE FOR SOLARZ'S RESOLUTION TO REACH THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE HAS SLIPPED. ACTION IS STALLED IN TWO SUB-COMMITTEES WHO ARE AWAITING THE ADMINISTRATION'S INITIAL REACTIONS TO THE RESOLUTION BEFORE PROCEEDING.

3.

MEANWHILE ACTION LIES WITH THE HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUB- COMMITTEE, WHICH IS CONSIDERING A BROAD REVISION OF US IMMIGRATION LAW. SOLARZ HAS PERSUADED CONGRESSMAN FRANKS (A MEMBER OF THE IMMIGRATION SUB-COMMITTEE) TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE DRAFT IMMIGRATION BILL DURING HEARINGS DUE TO BEGIN ON 28 MARCH. WE UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENT WILL PROPOSE EXTENDING THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH THOSE AWARDED VISAS WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN THE US. IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER THE AMENDMENT WILL BE ADOPTED. CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN FRANKS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE STILL