TNAG-2181-FCO40-3118-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 191

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT BY PUS TO BAHRAIN 7-11 MAY 1990

BRIEF: HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

POINTS TO MAKE

- Immediate problem is how to stem the outflow of Hong Kong's most

skilled and enterprising people. On 19 April the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill passed its 2nd reading with a

comfortable majority in the House of Commons.

Obviously the UK has primary responsibility to take the lead on

the confidence issue but other countries can also play a role in the

process.

Hong Kong is a very important international and regional economic

and banking centre. All countries should see it in their interests

to see that Hong Kong continues as such, by impressing on the

Chinese Government when opportunities arise, how vital it is to

maintain Hong Kong's future stability and prosperity. The British

nationality package, we see, as a major contribution to this.

Bahraini public support to maintain confidence in the future of

Hong Kong would be welcome.

FAYAOX

CONFIDENTIAL