FCO 40/3116
CONFIDENTIAL
117007
MDHIAN 21
IF
ITALIAN NATIONALITY TO HONG KONG CITIZENS WOULD REQUIRE SPECIAL
LEGISLATION AND WOULD TAKE AN INORDINATELY LONG TIME TO RECEIVE PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL. FERRI BELIEVED THAT DE MICHELIS WAS IN PRINCIPLE IN FAVOUR OF THE LONG TERM VISA APPROACH, BUT HIS AGREEMENT COULD NOT (NOT) BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED AT THIS STAGE. FERRI'S PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTED THE OFFER OF LONG TERM VISAS COULD BE MADE KNOWN TO THOSE CONCERNED IN HONG KONG FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND WITHOUT THE NEED TO INVOLVE ANY OTHER ITALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE MFA WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, WISH TO GIVE UNDUE PUBLICITY TO SUCH A SCHEME SINCE THAT MIGHT ENCOURAGE PRESSURES FOR
SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS FOR OTHER COUNTRIES.
5. ASKED WHETHER LONG TERM VISAS WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL STAFF OF THE ITALIAN CONSULATE IN HONG KONG, FERRI EXPLAINED THAT SUCH PEOPLE WOULD HAVE AN AUTOMATIC RIGHT TO RESIDENCE IN ITALY UNDER EXISTING PROCEDURES. THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR FOREIGNERS SEEKING ITALIAN NATIONALITY WAS ALREADY WAIVED FOR LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF OF MANY ITALIAN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS OVERSEAS.
6. FERRI ENDED BY SAYING THAT HE HAD BEEN SPEAKING IN CONFIDENCE (PLEASE PROTECT). HE TRUSTED WE WOULD NOT (NOT) REPRESENT WHAT HE
HAD SAID AS A FIRM GOVERNMENT DECISION. THERE WAS STILL SOME WAY TO GO AND HE COULD NOT PREDICT WHETHER HIS OWN PREFERRED OPTION WOULD RECEIVE GENERAL ENDORSEMENT AT THE CHEF DE CABINET'S MEETING ON MONDAY. THE FINAL DECISION WOULD, OF COURSE, BE FOR HIS MINISTER.
COMMENT 7.
FERRI IS WELL IN WITH DE MICHELIS (THEY ARE BOTH VENETIANS) AND
IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT HIS IDEA WILL FIND FAVOUR. COMING SO CLOSELY
ON THE HEELS OF NEW AND CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION ON IMMIGRATION THIS IS AN AWKWARD MOMENT FOR THE ITALIANS TO DEAL WITH OTHER PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE ISSUE OF NATIONALITY. HENCE FERRI'S PREFERENCE FOR A MECHANISM THAT CAN BE HANDLED UNDER THE MFA'S OWN AUSPICES AND WITHOUT GIVING RISE TO DOMESTIC DEBATE. IN THE NATURE OF THINGS IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT DE MICHELIS HAS COME UNDER A GOOD
DEAL OF PRESSURE FROM ITALIAN COMMERCIAL CONCERNS IN HONG KONG TO
DO SOMETHING TO LOOK AFTER THEIR LONGER TERM INTERESTS. FERRI UNDERTOOK TO LET US KNOW THE OUTCOME OF NEXT MONDAY'S MFA MEETING. MY CALL ON MFA SECRETARY GENERAL BOTTAI LATER NEXT WEEK ON OTHER
BUSINESS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT DE MICHELIS HAS DECIDED TO DO. IN THE MEANTIME IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE INADVISABLE TO
MAKE ANY PUBLIC REFERENCE TO THE KIND OF MEASURE WHICH THE ITALIANS MAY ADOPT.
PAGE 2 CONFIDENTIAL
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