TNAG-2192-FCO40-3129-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 39

SECRET

SECRET

187

062640

MDHIAN 1206

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 14130OZ FCO

TELNO 912

OF 14113OZ MARCH 90

PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN, AUSS FROM GOVERNOR

нко 34014

RECEIVED IN EGISTRY

23 MAY 1990

MIPT: UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Aution Taken

I HAVE JUST SEEN A FAX LETTER OF 13 MARCH FROM MRS GRIMSEY IN THE HOME OFFICE TO DONALD TSANG. IT CONCLUDES BY REFERRING THE

MEETING IN YOUR OFFICE ON 9 MARCH AND SAYING:

I) SHE WAS ''LEFT UNCLEAR WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WAS AWARE THAT

THE FORMAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRAWING UP THE SCHEME LAY WITH HIM RATHER THAN HMG'': AND

II)

2.

THAT MORRIS HAD MADE THE POINT DURING MEETINGS WITH TSANG

IN JANUARY THAT THE BILL WOULD PLACE A DUTY ON THE

GOVERNOR TO DRAW UP THE SCHEME WHILE EMPOWERING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SUBMIT IT TO PARLIAMENT, AMENDED AS HE THINKS FIT AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR''

BOTH POINTS ARE TOTALLY NEW TO ME. AS YOU KNOW THEY DID NOT/NOT

COME UP AT YOUR MEETING. I AM AWARE THAT THE SCHEME WILL PLACE A HEAVY BURDEN ON HONG KONG, AND ME PERSONALLY, IN THAT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO GO FROM HERE. MOST OF THE RESULTING HASSLE OVER WHO IS SELECTED AND WHO NOT WILL THEREFORE CENTRE ON US HERE. THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM. BUT I ACCEPT THAT WE MUST LIVE WITH IT FOR THE SAKE OF GETTING A SCHEME WHICH IS ALREADY DIFFICULT ENOUGH POLITICALLY IN THE UK.

3. I WAS NOT/NOT HOWEVER AWARE (NOR WAS TSANG) THAT THE BILL WOULD PLACE A DUTY ON ME TO DRAW UP A SCHEME. NOR THAT THE FORMAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRAWING UP A SCHEME WOULD LIE WITH ME RATHER

THAN HMG. I CANNOT SEE HOW EITHER CAN BE THE CASE.

4.

WE HAVE WORKED HARD ON TRYING TO PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR A REASONABLE SCHEME. I HAVE NO/NO OBJECTION TO IT BEING SAID THAT THE

CONCEPT OF KEY PERSONNEL AND PROPENSITY TO EMIGRATE WAS SUGGESTED

FROM HERE. BUT THE FORMAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRAWING UP THE SCHEME CANNOT REST HERE. THAT BOTH IS, AND MUST BE, A MATTER FOR HMG.

PAGE

SECRET

1