TNAG-2195-FCO40-3132-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 134

IMMIGRATION POLICY

I need no reminding of the need for fair but firm immigration control. I have not only preached but

practised that policy. The Home Secretary and I have

worked together on these matters before. All of us in

Government are clear that strict immigration control is

needed if we are to have decent relations between the

communities in this country. That has been one

consideration in our minds throughout this discussion. The other has been the need to keep Hong Kong going as our last big colony at a level of prosperity and

stability which both the interests of Britain and the

reputation of Britain require. Of course it has not been

easy to reconcile these considerations. We decided that

because of the first consideration we could not possibly accept the advice of the r. h. g. for Yeovil that we

should let in all 3.7 [?] million BDTCS. We decided that because of the second consideration we could not possibly

say a flat no to Hong Kong. In that sense the Bill is a compromise criticised by some for going too far, by others for not going far enough, in fact we think getting it about right. If we had sat back and said nothing

doing, if our other policies had also failed and Hong Kong had degenerated into chaos or anarchy, then we might

have faced a refugee problem which neither law nor admiration could prevent people coming here and

-

claiming asylum as refugees, conceivably on a scale which

would make the present measure look small.