TNAG-2638-FCO40-3830-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1992 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

to leave Hong Kong in the future we would expect the Government of the day to consider any case for admission to the UK with considerable and particular sympathy.

5. The Government of India have generally kept a low profile over the issue, saying that the problem is one for

the UK to resolve. However following the Secretary of State's meeting with the Indian President in April 1990 the Indians told a press conference that the President had expressed serious concern to the Secretary of State over the

future of Hong Kong residents of Indian origin who would be

left stateless after 1997. In fact the matter was not

mentioned. Then at the end of the Secretary of State's

visit to India in January, the Indian foreign Minister raised the matter (at New Delhi Airport on 18 January).

Secretary of State instructed the High Commission to brief

the MFA on the background to the issue.

The

6. The subject may become a domestic issue in Indian

politics as 1997 approaches, but we judge that it would be

counter productive to ask the Indians to provide right of

abode assurances to Indians in Hong Kong, (this would simply

draw unwelcome attention to our immigration policy towards

the sub-continent). However the question of dual

citizenship for Indians abroad remains under consideration

by the GOI. If they choose to permit it this could help the

Hong Kong Indians.

JH2AAX/2

CONFIDENTIAL