TNAG-2625-FCO40-3816-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1992 — Page 129

RESTRICTED

Importance to Hong Kong of China's MFN status well

understood. The US Administration is not in favour

of withdrawing MFN status from China and President Bush

will veto any attempt by Congress to do so. We have consistently argued Hong Kong's case with the Amercians.

-

Impressed by scale and quality of housing developments. real achievement that some 50% of households are in public

housing.

www

(Defensive: Housing)

Policy on rental levels must be for Housing Authority and Government, consulting through existing channels.

(Defensive:

-

Nationality).

A

Holders of BDTC or BN (0) passports enjoy the usual access to

consular protection when travelling abroad.

- Because the government of the PRC regards them as Chinese nationals, under international law this makes them dual nationals.

- It would not normally be British practice to seek to exercise

consular protection on behalf of British nationals in the country

of their other nationality.

Nevertheless, where we have grounds for doing so, we are willing

to approach the Chinese authorities. We have done so repeatedly in

the cases of Hong Kong residents detained in China for political

offences. All have, as far as we are aware, now been released.

- We will continue to take up deserving cases in future. But people

intending to visit the PRC should respect the laws of that country.

sos.hk.PR

RESTRICTED

SLM