TNAG-2180-FCO40-3117-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 124

UNCLASSIFIED

FM OTTAWA

TO DESKBY 0609OOZ FCO

TELNO 263

OF 05211OZ APRIL 90

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

- 172

172)

UNCLASSIFIED

HID 3401

нко

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

02 MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

OUR TELNO 261: HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT.

1.

181

163071

MDHIAN 7606

THE FOLLOWING IS REVISED CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PUBLIC LINE ON SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG:

BEGINS

THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WELCOMES AND SUPPORTS BRITISH EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG THROUGH THE OFFER OF A RIGHT-OF-ABODE PACKAGE. IT IS HOPED THAT THIS PACKAGE WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, WHOSE TALENTS ARE REQUIRED IN THE TERRITORY, TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG UP TO AND EVEN BEYOND 1997 WHEN IT BECOMES A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE ZONE OF THE PRC. AS THERE IS CONSIDERABLE FLEXIBILITY WITH CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS, CANADA DOES NOT INTEND TO CHANGE ITS UNIVERSAL AND NONDISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION PROGRAM AND DEVELOP A RIGHT-OF-ABODE PROGRAM.

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, HONG KONG HAS BEEN CANADA'S PRINCIPLE SOURCE OF IMMIGRANTS (APPROXIMATELY 19,950 IN 1989). THIS TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE. CANADIAN INTEREST HAS ALSO GROWN. SINCE 1985, THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF CANADIAN CITIZENS IN HONG KONG HAS INCREASED FROM 18,000 TO OVER 35,000. THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CANADIAN CITIZENS OF HONG KONG ORIGIN WHO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CANADA AND THE TERRITORY ARE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE TWO SOCIETIES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROSPERITY OF BOTH CANADA AND HONG

KONG.

CANADIAN OFFICIALS VISITED LONDON, HONG KONG AND BEIJING IN FEBRUARY TO EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE AS A CAUSE OF INCREASED INTEREST IN EMIGRATING. AS A RESULT OF THE FRANK AND POSITIVE DISCUSSIONS, MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

ENDS

NEWTON

YYYY