TNAG-2739-FCO40-3953-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development--through-tra-1993 — Page 59

CONFIDENTIAL

152.64

MDHIAN 1

3.

THE PAPER QUOTED CHIENSE SOURCES AS SAYING THAT IF MORE THAN 12 LEGCO MEMBERS WERE HOLDING FOREIGN PASSPORTS IN 1997, SOME OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO GET OFF THE TRAIN.

COMMENT.

4.

THE HKEJ REPORTER TOLD ACTING SCA YESTERDAY THAT THE STORY WAS OBTAINED FROM CHINESE SOURCES, AND ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION.

IN RESPONSE, ACTING SCA TOOK THE FOLLOWING LINES:

(A) HE CANNOT COMMENT ON WHAT WENT ON IN THE TALKS.

(B)

(C)

IT SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN 20 PERCENT FOREIGN PASSPORT HOLDERS IN THE 1995 LEGCO.

WE WOULD, OF COURSE, BE PREPARED TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE CHINESE SIDE MIGHT SAY ABOUT HOW THEY WISHED TO IMPLEMENT THIS BL PROVISION IN 1997.

FORD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

58

DISTRIBUTION

65

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS NEWS D

NTCD

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

7

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF //MISS NEVILLE-JONES

PS NO 10.

2

CAOFF //MR SIBSON

NN~~

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL

2