Mr Paul,
HKD
FROM:
David Lidington
DATE:
30 March 1990
PS
нко 340/40.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 5MAY 1990
PS/Mr Maude
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Burns, News Dept
Mr Yeo MP
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Mr Fraser
Mr Davis MP
Mr Carlisle MP
(263)
!MMIGRATIN
FOREIGN SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH IAN STEWART MP
1. You were present when the Foreign Secretary met Mr Stewart at the House of Commons on Wednesday, 28 March.
2. Mr Stewart had two basic objections to the Government's plans for Hong Kong. First, he was strongly opposed to further integration. Asians already in Britain had proved very bad at integrating with the indigenous population. He encountered serious problems in his constituency over the wish of Asians to preserve their separateness.
3. Mr Stewart also thought that the "passports to stay" argument was unconvincing. Certainly the message was not getting through to the man on the street. He did not trust Hong Kong people at all. "They are unscrupulous people with an eye on number one". That certainly was his own view having been involved in negotiating the Defence Costs Agreement with Hong Kong. In his view there was nothing to stop the Hong Kongers pocketing the Government's concession and then demanding more.
4.
Mr Stewart said that he was still undecided about the Hong Kong Bill but found it "very difficult to contemplate supporting the Government on that". I think he might be persuaded to abstain, but no better.
кучи
Miss Marssen Mr Mogra 6/4
We need to
o try bo
Counter those
рынь
йы
know briefing
No
2/4
David Lidington Special Adviser
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.