TNAG-2180-FCO40-3117-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 21

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 118

OF 17143OZ APRIL 90

INFO PRIORITY CANBERRA, OTTAWA

007366

MDHIAN 7142

MR MAUDE'S VISIT: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

SUMMARY

1. SINCE MR MAUDE'S DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG THERE HAS BEEN CRITICAL COMMENT IN THE PRESS, ON TV AND ON RADIO, ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTER HOLIDAY PERIOD, FOCUSING ON MR MAUDE'S STATEMENT OF 10 APRIL ON INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG. UNHELPFUL COMMENTS HAVE COME FROM THE CANADIAN AND AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES.

DETAIL

2. THE MEDIA COMMENTS HAVE BEEN FUELED BY REMARKS ATTRIBUTED TO BOTH THE AUSTRALIAN CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG AND A SPOKESMAN AT THE CANADIAN COMMISSION. THE AUSTRALIAN IS QUOTED AS SAYING: ''THE PARTICULAR ASPECT OF OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT MR MAUDE IMPLIED TO BE A NEW INITIATIVE HAS BEEN IN PLACE OVER THREE YEARS AND

APPLIES WORLD-WIDE. TO SEEK TO SUGGEST AND TO CLAIM CREDIT FOR A CHANGE OF POLICY, WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NON, IS POOR FORM''. REFERRING TO MR MAUDE'S REMARKS THAT DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE IN CAPITALS, HE IS REPORTED AS SAYING: ''TO SUGGEST THAT I OR MY STAFF ARE UNINFORMED ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES IS GRATUITOUS THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE CANADIAN COMMISSION IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT ''MR MAUDE HAD TAKEN A QUANTUM LEAP FROM OUR STATED SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE TO WHAT HE SUGGESTED IN HIS STATEMENT. BRITAIN DOES NOT TELL CANADA HOW TO THINK. HE (MR MAUDE) HAS TAKEN CREDIT FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM. BRITAIN HAS NOT SPOKEN FOR CANADA SINCE 1927. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MR MAUDE WAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE BY THESE STATEMENTS. IT MAKES NO SENSE.'

·

3. THE GERMAN CONSUL GENERAL HAS ALSO BEEN QUOTED DENYING THAT ANY CHANGE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION POLICIES THAT WOULD BENEFIT HONG KONG IS BEING CONSIDERED.

4. THESE AND SIMILAR COMMENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN WIDE PUBLICITY.

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