CONFIDENTIAL
6.
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the point should be stressed that rich people are already allowed to come to Britain under the provisions of the immigration rules regarding businessmen and people of independent means. Mr Shore said that this would help make the case that the new assurances scheme was not designed specifically to help rich people.
the "passports to stay" idea needed further emphasis;
could not something more be done to help the Indian community in Hong Kong?
more information was needed on the occupations of people emigrating from Hong Kong to Australia and Canada.
Mr Rees asked if we were now seeing the beginnings of renewed contacts between Britain and China. The Secretary of State said that such contacts were indeed restarting although the Chinese were being as difficult over nationality as over democracy.
ACTION
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(a) The Secretary of State would like officials to bear in mind Mr Shore's lists of points which the Government needs to consider in presenting its case to Parliament. He believes that Mr Shore's judgment about the importance of these matters is broadly correct.
(b) The Secretary of State would like Hong Kong Department to provide a letter for him to send to Mr Shore, copied to Mr Rees. This letter should answer Mr Shore's questions about how the figure of 50,000 was reached, the type of people who would benefit from the assurances scheme and the numbers and occupations of people now emigrating from Hong Kong to Australia and Canada.
(c) The Secretary of State also attaches importance to showing Members of Parliament and the British public that the United Kingdom has a strong vested interest in maintaining the prosperity of Hong Kong. He hopes that the response to Sir Henry Keswick's recent letter on British interests in Hong Kong is well advanced and that account should also be taken of the opportunities open to British business from the proposed new airport and container port in Hong Kong.
Dil
David Lidington Special Adviser
c.c. PS
PS/Mr Maude Mr McLaren
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Burns, News Dept
Mr Yeo
Mr Davis Mr Fraser
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Carlisle
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