TNAG-2368-FCO40-3441-Future-of-Hong-Kong-international-support-regarding-national-1991 — Page 31

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FM FCO

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TELNO 222

OF 26190OZ FEBRUARY 91

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HKD 340/19

FOR BURNS AUS, VISITING FROM HKD

TALSEČI

TAMAR 1991

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104566 MDHOAN 8718

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A DIOT

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Int support

Y 27/2

TELECON BURNS/MARSDEN OF 26 FEBRUARY: NON ETHNIC CHINESE IN HONG

KONG

1. WE UNDERSTAND YOU WOULD WELCOME BACKGROUND AND A LINE TO TAKE ON THIS SUBJECT. WE ARE FAXING BACKGROUND MATERIAL TO YOU. THE

FOLLOWING ARE THE KEY POINTS.

2.

THERE ARE SOME 4,500 BDTCS OF INDIAN ORIGIN IN HONG KONG, NONE OF WHOM HOLD INDIAN PASSPORTS BECAUSE THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT DO NOT RECOGNISE DUAL NATIONALITY. WE ESTIMATE THAT OF THIS 4,500, SOME 1,500 HOLD OTHER FOREIGN (IE NON INDIAN) PASSPORTS.

3. DURING OUR LOBBYING EXERCISE ON INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT IN EARLY 1990 WE CONSIDERED BUT DECIDED AGAINST LOBBYING THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO OFFER REASSURANCE IN THE FORM OF PASSPORTS TO HONG KONG CITIZENS OF INDIAN ORIGIN. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER ADVISED THEN THAT THE INDIANS WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO OFFER SUPPORT AND THAT WE MIGHT JUST PROVOKE THEM INTO REHEARSING THEIR CRITICISM

OF OUR EAST AFRICAN ASIAN QUOTA SYSTEM.

4. HOWEVER, DURING PRESIDENT VENKATARAMAN'S VISIT TO THE UK IN APRIL 1990, THE INDIAN DELEGATION TOLD THE PRESS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG CITIZENS OF INDIAN ORIGIN WHO WOULD BE LEFT STATELESS AFTER 1997. HE DID NOT (NOT) IN

FACT MENTION THIS IN THEIR DISCUSSION.

5. FOLLOWING THIS EPISODE, WE DECIDED THAT IT WOULD AFTER ALL BE WORTH RAISING THIS WITH THE INDIANS. THE PUS DID SO DURING HIS VISIT IN MAY 1990. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD PARLIAMENT THAT THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT REGARDED THESE PEOPLE AS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UK GOVERNMENT **WHO SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT RENDERED STATELESS' NO OFFER

OF PASSPORTS WAS MADE. WE CONSIDER THE MATTER CLOSED: IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN HONG KONG SINCE THE

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