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Draft letter from the Prime Minister to:
OMELCO
HONG KONG
Thank you for your letter of 5 September and for your kind words. I found the meeting most interesting.
We too are unhappy about the nationality and right of abode restrictions in the Basic Law, although we do
not accept that they amount to a breach of the Joint
Declaration. In the highly charged atmosphere after Tiananmen and the announcement of our Nationality scheme,
we were unable to persuade the Chinese to delete these provisions.
As relations improve I hope that the Chinese can be brought to see that these restrictions are damaging. If, as I have urged, they now take steps to build up a working relationship with OMELCO, this may help them to understand better the contribution made by Hong Kong people with right of abode overseas. More generally we must make every effort to work for a sensible relationship with the Chinese across the board. It will be easier to make progress on practical questions if the general atmosphere is one of co-operation rather than confrontation. But I shall not flinch from tough decisions if I believe that they will promote Hong Kong's interests.
Redacted under FOI exemptions 27(1), 40(2) and 41.
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