TNAG-2350-FCO40-3419-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--China-and-the-USA-1991 — Page 18

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1245

MDHOA 3051

TIANANMEN AND OUR RECENT DIFFICULTIES WITH PEKING OVER THE HONG KONG NATIONALITY SCHEME, BILL OF RIGHTS AND AIRPORT, IT WOULD NOT SERVE OUR INTERESTS TO BE SEEN TO BE ENCOURAGING THIS KIND

OF BILL.

5. EVEN IF WE WERE INFORMALLY TO OFFER DRAFTING AMENDMENTS

AIMED AT MINIMISING CHINESE IRRITATION WITHOUT VITIATING THE BILL'S PURPOSE, WE NOTE THE RISK OF OTHERS HIJACKING IT. (THE EXPERIENCE OF THE 1990 US IMMIGRATION ACT SHOWS THAT EVEN WELL-INTENTIONED CONGRESSIONAL INITIATIVES CAN HAVE UNHELPFUL

CONSEQUENCES. WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF

EMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG TO THE USA AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE SEEKING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REMAIN IN THE TERRITORY.)

6. WE SHALL BE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT THE SENATE FOREIGN

RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE BILL IN DUE COURSE. MEANWHILE GRATEFUL YOUR EARLY VIEWS (AND ANY COMMENTS FROM ADDRESSEES) ON HOW HONG KONG SHOULD RESPOND TO THE US

CONSULATE-GENERAL.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

60

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

. (RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

PUSD

HD/FED

NEWS D

ADDITIONAL

4

DISTRIBUTION

64

PLANNERS

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS

MISS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS

MISS NEVILLE-JONES CAB OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK NO.10

NNNN

2

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