RESTRICTED
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 15090OZ F C O
TELNO 401
OF 150826Z MARCH 90
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
184
YOUR TELNO 557 TO HONG KONG.
RESTRICTED
нко 34004
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
23 MAY 1990***
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
NATIONALITY PACKAGE: PQ.
1196
065230
MDHIAN 1333
1.
AT PRESENT WE HAVE LITTLE TO BE FORTHCOMING ABOUT BUT WE COULD DISPLAY MORE DETERMINATION. THIS WOULD HELP PERSUADE CRITICS, INCLUDING CHINA, THAT THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE WILL BE ADOPTED BY PARLIAMENT AND THAT THEY SHOULD BEGIN CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS FACT.
2.
WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING REPLY:
''WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ON NATIONALITY QUESTIONS. THE HON GENTLEMAN WOULD NOT EXPECT ME TO REVEAL THE DETAILS OF CONFIDENTIAL EXCHANGES.
BUT I CAN TELL HIM THAT WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THAT THE GRANTING OF FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS IS A MATTER WHICH FALLS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1984 JOINT DECLARATION''.
DONALD
YYYY
MAIN
15
LIMITED
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
15
MR MCLAREN
PAGE 1 RESTRICTED
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