TNAG-2745-FCO40-3960-Visits-by-the-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-(EXCO)-and-Legi-1993 — Page 27

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6 MAY 1993

Mr Rickett's

Mr Hum

PA

File

21

FROM:

Deborah Barnes Jones Hong Kong Department

DATE:

5 May 1993

CC:

Ms Everett, News Dept Mr Morris, NTCD

PS/Mr Goodlad

ETHNIC MINORITY IN HONG KONG: LEGCO DELEGATION TO VISIT LONDON

1

A

Problem

1. Hong Kong asked us at the end of March to seek Ministers'

views on LegCo's representations for full British citizenship for the non-Chinese ethnic minority. Hong Kong have now asked us to hold up any response to LegCo until a delegation visit in June to lobby on this issue (and probably on other

nationality related issues). What to do?

Recommendation

2. That there should be no formal response to LegCo until after the visit of the delegation. The Home Office agree this

would be best. I submit a telegram to Hong Kong which might

issue once the Home Office have responded to Mr Goodlad's

letter to Mr Wardle of 19 April (my submission of 19 April).

Background

•

A LegCo debate in March passed a motion recommending granting full British nationality to members of ethnic minorities and called on the Hong Kong Government (HKG) to make representations to HMG. Hong Kong reported this in their

B telno 494. We took this to be a formal request to seek

sub.legcovis.NAT

JEB/JRB

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