TNAG-2639-FCO40-3831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-nationality-dependants-1992 — Page 9

C

dla

From

преданого

Actie take a

para 3

Date :

CC

《

Pa

4/9.

HKD 34616

08 SEP 1992

157

BB

(52

PS/Mr Goodlad

3 September 1992

Mr Hum

Heads of: MVD

NTCD

Mr Ricketts, HKD

CALL

CALL ON MR GOODLAD BY DR C H LEONG, MEMBER OF HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: 3 SEPTEMBER 1992

1.

The Minister was grateful for the briefing for this call and for your attendance.

2. Mr Goodlad briefed Dr Leong on the issue of children of British citizen parents in Hong Kong, drawing on the Home Secretary's letter of 2 September to the Secretary of State. He acknowledged that this was not quite 100% of what was sought. Dr Leong expressed pleasure at the news. He had identified less than 150 affected families to date, involving 220 children. Almost all cases would have spent a period in the UK and the majority also had a sibling with British citizenship: they would therefore meet the Home Secretary's criteria. About 20 were aged over 18: he was glad to learn that the operative date was the date of application.

3. Dr Leong regretted he would not be present for the Minister's meeting with OMELCO in Hong Kong. Mr Goodlad proposed to write to Dr Leong setting out the new position and to read out this letter when he met OMELCO. Dr Leong added that it would be important to make an early start on implementation. The Minister agreed that officials would consult the Home Office on this.

4. More generally, Dr Leong said that the new Governor was very outgoing and was making a considerable impact. His 7 October address was eagerly anticipated. Continued linkage between ExCo and LegCo was important though he would like to see the two bodies function separately. But he foresaw "livelihood" issues would be the most important over the next five years. He hoped the airport could be resolved soon, or the price would shoot up. He believed that China did understand the financial issues involved but were playing a game by linking it with constitutional questions. On law and order, he mentioned that 50 cars per month were being stolen at Chinese instigation.

There

/were also