TNAG-2180-FCO40-3117-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 19

TALKING POINTS

CONFIDENTIAL

Canada is an active supporter of measures to ensure the

continued prosperity and stability of Hong Kong;

Canadian support has been expressed by the Prime

Minister at the G-7 Summit and by the Prime Minister

and Secretary of State for External Affairs at CHOGM;

Canada has been active in seeking to obtain recognition

for Hong Kong's international status (e.g. by supporting

their participation in APEC, PEEC, etc);

The Cabinet reviewed the Hong Kong policy and endorsed

Canadian Confidence Building Measures (CBMS) for Hong

Kong. These were discussed with UK officials in February

and we are actively pursuing means to implement our

CBMS;

Planning is underway for the visit of the Governor

of Hong Kong to Canada in May at which time we hope

to make public reference to aspects of Canadian CBMS;

Canadian CBMS do not include changes to universal

Canadian immigration program. The flexibility that

exists is being jeopardized by continued public references

and interpretation by UK authorities.

a sensitive subject domestically;

Immigration is

We are concerned at the risk of backlash in Canada

which could limit the flexibility of existing immigration

practices (e.g. public references to backflow of Canadian

citizens to the Territory (increased from an approximate

18,000 in 1985 to over 30,000) or continued high levels

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