TNAG-2189-FCO40-3126-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TELNO 218

TO PRIORITY F C 0

OF 130851Z FEBRUARY 90

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Mah

OTR

90

135764

MDLIAN 8090

Mr faut, 147K)

нко 34014

Ver

odd

RECEIVED REGISTRY

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG1APR 1990

KUNG

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

3/ü

NATIONALITY/RIGHT OF ABODE PACKAGE.

1. WE NOTE THAT THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OF 5 FEBRUARY CLAIMS THAT THE MFA, ON 4 FEBRUARY, URGED THE UK AND FRANCE TO REFRAIN FROM JEOPARDISING THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG BY GRANTING RIGHT OF

ABODE BY HONG KONG RESIDENTS. THE STATEMENT IS REPORTED TO HAVE COME JUST DAYS AFTER FRENCH BUSINESS SOURCES IN HONG KONG DISCLOSED THAT FRANCE WAS CONSIDERING GIVING RIGHT OF ABODE TO SOME 1,200 KEY ETHNIC CHINESE EMPLOYEES OF FRENCH FIRMS IN THE TERRITORY'' THE MFA SPOKESMAN IS QUOTED AS HAVING ''RECALLED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S PRINCIPLED POSITION ON THE ERRONEOUS PRACTICE OF THE UK IN DECIDING TO CHANGE UNILATERALLY THE NATIONALITY OF A PORTION OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS' AND TO HAVE SAID THAT CHINA ALSO HOPED THAT OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING FRANCE, WOULD ACT WITH PRUDENCE AND REFRAIN FROM DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD JEOPARDISE THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG, DAMAGE BILATERAL RELATIONS, AND HURT THE NATIONAL FEELINGS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE.

·

2. EMBASSY PRESS OFFICER, WHO ATTENDED THE MFA PRESS CONFERENCE ON 4 FEBRUARY, CONFIRMS THAT THE MFA SPOKESMAN MADE NO (NO) REFERENCE TO THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE NOR TO ANY SIMILAR MOVES BY FRANCE. WE HAVE ALSO CHECKED WITH THE FRENCH EMBASSY HERE WHO SAY THAT THEY HAVE NOT (NOT) BEEN APPROACHED BY THE MFA ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE.

DONALD

YYYY

1

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CONFIDENTIAL