TNAG-2189-FCO40-3126-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 21

-4-

If we had offered no assurances on nationality, we would certainly have damaged this country's economic interests. We should also have made more likely a major challenge to our policy of

restricting immigration. If confidence within Hong Kong were to collapse completely, then we could expect very large numbers of people to arrive at our airports seeking admission as refugees. numbers involved might make the 50,000 families included in the

Government's scheme look small.

The

It would

Faced with such a situation, the British Government would naturally try to coordinate an international response to the problem, but we can be certain that other countries would expect us, as the former colonial power, to accept the lion's share. be far preferable to avoid such an outcome by doing everything in our power to maintain the prosperity and confidence of Hong Kong during the remaining years of British administration.

Эспу'сь брий

laws

ردو نکا

DOUGLAS HURD

Secretary of State for

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

DAVID WADDINGTON

Secretary of State for the Home Office