TNAG-2180-FCO40-3117-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 151

CONFIDENTIAL

confirmed that they do not intend to adopt a scheme similar to our

right of abode legislation, they have agreed that we can refer

publicly to the scope for flexibility within their existing

immigration and citizenship regulations. We have now asked the

Australians if they could also agree to a form of words about

flexibility within their immigration rules which we could use

publicly.

4. The US position is still unclear and there is considerable

resistance both within the Administration and in Congress to making

Hong Kong a special case. The Embassy in Washington have

recommended that the Prime Minister should raise this with President

Bush in Bermuda. Our public line should continue to be that the

matter is under consideration by the US Administration and there

have been expressions of support in principle in the US Congress.

5. Following this latest round of lobbying, we now have enough material to prepare a more detailed public line on international

support for use during Mr Maude's visit to Hong Kong and in the

debate on the Hong Kong Bill. Work on this has been set in hand.

A point we will need to bear in mind, however, is that unless we go

ahead with the Approved Secondment Scheme in some form, any

publicity which we give to the measures being taken by other

countries may lead to increased discontent among British companies.

(BTC telno 92).

6. Hong Kong have not yet been able to provide statistics on the number of passports/entry permits granted to Hong Kong people by other countries. But they are still pursuing this.

7. Both Hong Kong and Cape Town have advised strongly against pursuing this issue with the South African Government for the

reasons set out in the attached summary.

we drop this idea.

SAFD agree.

I therefore recommend that

ARPanc

A R Paul

CONFIDENTIAL