TNAG-2359-FCO40-3430-Official-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 22

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Mr Platt

Mr Nicholls

Mr Sanderson

Mr Varney

Mr McQueen

Mr Dolphin (by fax)

Mrs Kellas

Mr Kelly

Mr Gilbert

Mr Miller

Mr Fox

Mr Montgomery ) FCO Mr Morris

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Mr Rawsthorne

VISIT TO HONG KONG: 24 NOVEMBER 1 DECEMBER 1991

This note records the main points put to me during my recent

visit to Hong Kong.

2.

Mrs Lessie Wei, Deputy Secretary for Security (Special Duties) On the paucity of recommendations made to date by the Governor to the Nationality Team, Mrs Wei made the point that the

scheme had needed time to settle in. Hong Kong had experienced

difficulties in finding dates for the Steering Committee to meet.

A crucial meeting had now been fixed for early December and they

expected the flow of recommendations to improve considerably in

the New Year; their aim was to process around 80% of

recommendations in 1992. I made the point that the small number of recommendations to date might be raised if the Governor's

Annual Report was debated. It would therefore be helpful if the Report could state that the Governor expected to make the bulk

of his recommendations in 1992. We in the Home Office understood

the reasons for the small number of recommendations to date and

we had no criticism to make of the Hong Kong Government. However, Home Office Ministers would need a line to defend the

small numbers so far put forward.

3. Mrs Wei mentioned that the Hong Kong Government intended to

review the scheme towards the end of 1992 in preparation for the

second tranche. Their present view was that they would be likely

to recommend some changes in the allocations amongst the classes

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