CONFIDENTIAL
FM NEW DELHI
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 653
OF 17111OZ MAY 90
CONFIDENTIAL
нко
34012
! RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 8 JUN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
30"
125015
MDLIAN 1790
Mr Morris
Mr Morris
enter
10/5
ACTOR
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, SEOULAC FOR PEKING
INFO SAVING BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, MADRAS
SEOUL FOR PUS
MY FIRST IPT: PUS'S TALKS WITH THE INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY
15 MAY:
HONG KONG
SUMMARY
THE PUS ASKED THE GOI TO CONSIDER OFFERING REASSURANCE
IN THE FORM OF PASSPORTS TO HONG KONG CITIZENS OF INDIAN ORIGIN.
INDIANS ASKED TO KNOW THE NUMBERS INVOLVED. A SUBSEQUENT INDIAN PARLIAMENTARY ANSWER SUGGESTS POOR PROSPECTS FOR A FAVOURABLE
RESPONSE.
DETAIL
I
2. AT THE END OF THE TALKS THE PUS RAISED HONG KONG.
18/5
THERE WAS CONTINUING CONCERN, WHICH WE BELIEVED TO BE SHARED INTERNATIONALLY, TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CENTRE AFTER 1997. THE PUS HOPED THAT THE GOI WOULD USE WHAT CONTACTS THEY HAD TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS IN
THE INTEREST OF ALL CONCERNED THAT HONG KONG SHOULD REMAIN A THRIV- ING ECONOMY AFTER THE TRANSITION OF POWER.
3. THE PUS OUTLINED OUR LEGISLATION TO GIVE PASSPORTS TO 50,000 HONG KONG HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD AS A REASSURANCE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY. HE ASKED THE GOI TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY
OF OFFERING A SIMILAR REASSURANCE TO PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN IN HONG KONG. KHOSLA CADDITIONAL SECRETARY, MEA) SUGGESTED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE INDIAN COMMISSIONER THERE. AS A FIRST STEP, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THE INDIAN COMMUNITY (TOTALLING ABOUT 6000) WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THE 50,000 QUOTE. HE NOTED THAT CHINA HAD SHOWN NO SIGN OF CHANGING ITS POLICY OF RETAINING HONG KONG AS A DISTINCT ECONOMIC ENTITY AFTER 1997.
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.