TNAG-2189-FCO40-3126-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 95

3A)

CONFIDENTIAL

73

111243

MDHIAN 5505

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 451

OF P6114OZ FEBRUARY 90

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

FOR COPY 110 DIST

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 1 APR 1990

DESK OFFICER

RY

INDEX

PA

on Taken

UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE

1. DONALD TSANG HAS SHOWN ME A NOTE PREPARED BY STADLEN OF THE HOME OFFICE ON THE MAIN POINTS AGREED DURING TSANG'S LAST VISIT TO THE

UK ON 18 AND 19 JANUARY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT

YOU AND THE HOME OFFICE HAVE CLEARLY ALREADY PUT INTO THIS

DIFFICULT SUBJECT.

2. WHILE THE LAST ROUND OF EXPERT DISCUSSIONS WAS USEFUL, A LOT OF DETAILED WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD IF A BILL IS TO BE READY BY EASTER. I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO STICK TO THIS TIMETABLE.

3. THE POINTS MADE IN PARA 10 OF THE NOTE STRIKE ME AS BEING PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. I THINK TSANG HAS CONVEYED MY CONCERN THAT THE NUMERICAL CEILING OF 50,000 HOUSEHOLDS SET BY MINISTERS FOR THE PACKAGE IS EXCEEDINGLY TIGHT. GIVEN THIS CEILING, I SEE VERY SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES FROM LOCAL PRESENTATIONAL AND PRACTICAL VIEWPOINTS IN INCLUDING WITHIN IT PRIOR COMMITMENTS MADE BY HMG

TO INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GARRISON AND OTHER LOCAL UK INSTITUTIONS (E.G. BRITISH COUNCIL) WITHIN THE CEILING IS EVEN MORE DUBIOUS. BOTH AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, AND IN VIEW OF THE NUMBERS PROBLEM WE FACE, THESE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE DEALT WITH OUTSIDE THE PACKAGE. THERE MAY ALSO BE AN ADVANTAGE IN AVOIDING THESE RATHER SENSITIVE REQUIREMENTS COMING WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF PARLIAMENTARY AND OTHER PUBLIC DEBATE.

•

4 I FULLY APPRECIATE THE REASONING BEHIND MINISTERS' WISH THAT A FIGURE SHOULD BE ENSHRINED IN THE BILL TO CIRCUMSCRIBE THE SIZE OF THE WHOLE PACKAGE. IF MINISTERS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS REALLY IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT, THEN, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS THAT TSANG HAS NO DOUBT EXPLAINED TO THE HOME OFFICE TEAM, I WOULD MUCH PREFER THE FIGURE OF 225,000 PERSONS OR PASSPORTS BE CHOSEN FOR THIS PURPOSE. NOT ONLY WOULD THIS GIVE US GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN IMPLEMENTATION,

1

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