TNAG-2180-FCO40-3117-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 101

CONFIDENTIAL

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170412

MDHOAN 6719

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON

TELNO 615

OF 09093OZ APRIL 90

Ако 34071

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

02 MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

AND TO IMMEDIATE OTTAWA, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON PARTS THE HAGUE AND TO IMMEDIATE BRUSSELS, BONN, COPENHAGEN, ROME, LUXEMBOURG AND TO IMMEDIATE OSLO, STOCKHOLM, SINGAPORE

lebar.

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, JLG HONG KONG

MIFT: HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

1. FOLLOWING IS THE LINE MR MAUDE WILL TAKE.

BEGINS

1. IN HIS STATEMENT OF 20 DECEMBER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY SAID THAT WHILE HONG KONG IS A BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY IT IS ALSO AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, WITH HUGE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT. ITS MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. HE UNDERTOOK TO ASK OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES TO FOLLOW OUR LEAD IN INTRODUCING MEASURES TO REASSURE HONG KONG PEOPLE IN WAYS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.

2. IN THE THREE MONTHS SINCE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, WE HAVE MADE REPEATED REPRESENTATIONS AT A HIGH LEVEL TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF 20 COUNTRIES. THE PRIME MINISTER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND I HAVE RAISED THE MATTER PERSONALLY WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS IN MANY OF THESE COUNTRIES. WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IS A MATTER BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA. THIS WILL REMAIN THE CASE. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF GOING BACK ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, NOR OF INTERNATIONALISING MATTERS WHICH ARE THE SOLE CONCERN OF BRITAIN AND CHINA.

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3. IT IS IN FACT PRECISELY BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AS WE ARE OBLIGED TO DO UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT WE HAVE INTRODUCED MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE KEY PEOPLE TO REMAIN IN THE TERRITORY, AND HAVE URGED OTHER COUNTRIES TO INTRODUCE SIMILAR MEASURES.

4. THE RESPONSE TO OUR EFFORTS HAS BEEN GENERALLY VERY ENCOURAGING. SINGAPORE HAS ALREADY INTRODUCED A SCHEME COVERING

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