TNAG-2181-FCO40-3118-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 154

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1492

OF 07113OZ MAY 90

INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON

(CORRECTED TELNO)

CONFIDENTIAL

нко

340/1

254

071165

MDLIAN 9131

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 1 APR 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

YOUR TELNO 763, WASHINGTON TELNO 1057 AND MY TELNO 1476: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT: U.S. IMMIGRATION RULES

1. HAVING JUST SEEN THE EXCHANGES IN TURS, I FEEL THAT A FURTHER POINT WHICH HAS NOT PROPERLY BEEN BROUGHT OUT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THIS IS THAT WE DO NOT WISH OTHERS TO UNDERTAKE MEASURES THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE OUTFLOW OF TALENTED PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY SOON AFTER THE UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE TAKES EFFECT. HOWEVER MANY PLACES ARE OFFERED TO HONG KONG BY THE AMERICANS, THEY WILL BE FILLED. THERE IS A RISK WITH THE MORRISON BILL, HOWEVER AMENDED, THAT THE OUTFLOW WOULD INCREASE JUST WHEN THE UK PACKAGE IS BEING IMPLEMENTED. THE UNINFORMED, OR ILL-INTENTIONED, INCLUDING THE CHINESE, COULD CLAIM LINKAGE BETWEEN THE TWO SEPARATE EVENTS OR USE THE FIGURES TO CLAIM THAT THE

BRITISH PACKAGE HAD DONE NOTHING TO STEM THE OUTFLOW.

2. THE POINT I HAVE MADE BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO U.S. VISITORS HERE, IS THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR AN INCREASED QUOTA FOR HONG KONG. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS SUFFICIENTLY GREATER

FLEXIBILITY UNDER U.S. RULES TO ENABLE THOSE WHO WISH TO SECURE

RIGHT OF ENTRY INTO THE STATES NOT/NOT TO HAVE TO LEAVE HONG KONG

IN ORDER TO SECURE IT.

WILSON

YYYY

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