TNAG-2185-FCO40-3122-Ethnic-minorities-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 192

CONFIDENTIAL

Parliamentary support for the ethnic minorities

4. The Government have been vigorously lobbied by the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations and their supporters on behalf of the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. A delegation consisting

of Mr Sital, the Chairman of the Council of Hong Kong Indian

Association, and Mr Narain called on Mr Maude in October. They also

called on the Secretary of State, Mr Maude and the Home Secretary in

November. Over 50 MPs have written to the Prime Minister or FCO

Ministers on behalf of the ethnic minorities. Draft replies to

these letters will be submitted as soon as the Secretary of State has approved the reply to Mr Harilela.

5. We agreed with the Home Office that it would be better to delay replying to these letters until the details of the nationality

package had been announced. OD (K) decided on 12 December that no special arrangements would be made for the ethnic minorities and that they would have to take their chances with the rest of the

population under the points scheme.

6. The Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations have already expressed great disappointment that they will receive no special

treatment under the scheme. We can therefore expect further

criticism from their supporters when draft legislation is put

forward. The ethnic minorities will almost certainly continue to press their case by trying to get amendments inserted in the Bill during the Committee stage. The Foreign Affairs Committee, to which the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations gave evidence, recommended that the ethnic minorities should be given British citizenship. Lord Bonham-Carter and Baroness Ewart-Biggs also raised the question of the ethnic minorities during the House of

Lords debate on the statement on 20 December.

KEWAAF (2)

ARPane

A R Paul

CONFIDENTIAL