TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 32

07-JUN-1993

E4 DE LO EPPOOL

44 051 336 3086 F.12

point

under pressure to leave Hong Kong the British government of the day would consider with particular sympathy their case for admission to the United Kingdom. The Government cannot tie the hands of any future Government. This is as clear and as firm an undertaking as it can give.

Line to take

The ethnic minorities ties are with Hong Kong rather than the UK and it is therefore more appropriate to look to ensure their security in Hong Kong than to confer British citizenship on them. The Government's view is that there is no case for special

treatment. The position of the ethnic minorities has adequately protected, both in the Joint Declaration and Basic Law been

and also by the assurances which the Government has given about the action it would take in the event of an emergency and which it is very ready to repeat.