TNAG-2181-FCO40-3118-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 33

UNCLASSIFIED

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 171

OF 24020OZ MAY 90

AND TO PRIORITY CANBERRA

UNCLASSIFIED

147327

MDL AN 3597

287)

Нио 340/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

18 JUN 1990

BESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

MY TELNO 353:

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

1. RTHK (RADIO) CARRIED A REPORT THIS MORNING QUOTING AN AUSTRALIAN OFFICIAL SOURCE IN CANBERRA AS SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT PLAN TO WRITE TO THE BRITISH FORMALLY REJECTING ANY IDEA THAT AUSTRALIA PROPOSES TO INTRODUCE A SCHEME THAT WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG TO ACQUIRE A RESIDENCE STATUS WITHOUT LEAVING THE TERRITORY. THE SOURCE SAID THEY WERE VERY UNHAPPY WITH MR MAUDE'S STATEMENT IN HONG KONG OF 10 APRIL WHICH MADE IT SEEM AUSTRALIA WAS GOING TO CHANGE ITS REGULATIONS: THE IDEA WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND WOULD NOT WORK.

2.

THE SOURCE WAS ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING THAT AUSTRALIA WOULD IN- CREASE ITS INTAKE OF PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG THIS YEAR BY 30 PERCENT TO 15,000. OUR INFORMATION OFFICER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO LEAVE HONG KONG WAS NOT HELPFUL.

HEAP

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

76

DISTRIBUTION

86

.HK AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNERS

HD/CONSULAR D

SPD

NEWS D

DEFENCE D

PUSD

PS

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/PUS

MR P J WESTON

MR MCLAREN

SIR A WATTS

MR BURNS

MR MOSS

MR BLATHERWICK

10

PAGE

ADDITIONAL

HK AGREEMENT.

1

UNCLASSIFIED