TNAG-2184-FCO40-3121-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1991 — Page 16

CONFIDENTIAL

the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce and gave an interview to the

Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation following a fairly

well-attended press conference.

3.

The meeting which I had with Bossano and his Ministers was

predictably dominated by Bossano. The subjects of discussion

were also predictable with the Brussels process and the

Airport Agreement coming at the top of the agenda. The

discussion was wide ranging, friendly and inconclusive.

4.

The only moment during my trip when any serious business

was discussed was my half hour tête-à-tête with the Chief

Minister. We discussed his plan to entice £20 million of

investment into Gibraltar by offering residence to 2000 Hong

Kong Chinese. I said to him that we could not accept a scheme

that might breach the commitment we had given the House on

numbers. He confessed to me frankly that he could not see

way forward and asked me to take advice from the Home Office.

I agreed to do so. I stressed to him that we were genuinely

worried about tobacco smuggling and the problem being created

by GBC broadcasting into Spain outside the ITU regulations.

told him that we would raise the border fence with the

Spaniards at the next coordinators meeting. He saw no reason

to discuss it with them, but accepted with fair grace our view

that Spain does have some standing in the matter. He would be

content with its removal. He asked me to lobby on Gibraltar's

behalf on a planning difficulty they have with Calpe House. I

I

CONFIDENTIAL