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FM CANBERRA
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FLETTER FCO
TELELETTER NFR
OF 290345Z AUGUST 90
INFO TELELETTER HONG KONG
TO: I F LINDSAY ESQ, SPD
W C PATEY
FROM:
()
FCO
/
ED TO: HONG KONG DEPT, FCO
DPA, HONG KONG
AUSTRALIA:
1.
RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONG CITIZENS
IT MAY BE HELPFUL IN PREPARING BRIEFING FOR THE HOME SECRETARY IF I SUMMARISE WHERE WE STAND IN RESPECT OF OUR REPRESENTATIONS TO THE AUSTRALIANS ON RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONGERS.
2.
AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL LOBBYING EXERCISE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, THE HIGH COMMISSIONER RAISED WITH THE АЦСТРА! A M FOREIGN MINISTER THE POSSIBILITY THAT AUSTRALIA MIGHT DEVISE ARRANGEMENTS TO GIVE SOME HONG KONG PEOPLE THE ASSURANCE OF RIGHT OF ABODE IN AUSTRALIA WHILST ALLOWING THEM TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG. EVANS GAVE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO STUDY THE QUESTION BUT CONSIDERATION OF THIS ISSUE WAS OVERTAKEN BY THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON 24 MARCH. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR CONCERNS WOULD BE INCORPORATED IN A POST ELECTION SUBMISSION TO CABINET.
3.
DURING A VISIT TO CANBERRA ON 23 MARCH LORD BRABAZON ASKED THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT THAT IN ADDITION TO OUR PREVIOUS REPRESENTATIONS THE AUSTRALIANS MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER A SECONDMENT SCHEME SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH THE UK HAD PROPOSED. THE SECRETARY TO OFAT SAID THAT AUSTRALIA WOULD EXAMINE THE IDEA.
. ما
THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS WHOLE ISSUE FOR THE AUSTRALIANS IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY OUR ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT FROM HONG KONG'S POINT OF VIEW ON EXISTING AUSTRALIAN REGULATIONS. DESPITE OBTAINING FROM IMMIGRATION DEPT SPECIFIC AUSTRALIAN AGREEMENT ON A FORM OF WORDS FOR THE MINISTER OF STATE (MR MAUDE) TO USE DURING A VISIT TO HONG KONG IN APRIL THE AUSTRALIAN CONSUL-GENERAL THERE FELT IT NECESSARY TO ISSUE AN UNHELPFUL PUBLIC CLARIFICATION.
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