TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 64

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disposition to change their line that there is not a

sufficient case for granting full citizenship. We recommended

on 19 April that Mr Goodlad should, after consulting the Home Office, formally respond to LegCo's representatives in the

form of a letter to the Chief Secretary, irrespective of the

timing of the LegCo delegation visit. Mr Goodlad agreed.

4.

Hong Kong have now confirmed (their tel no 638) a visit by a 3 or 4 person delegation from the LegCo Committee in the first half of June. Hong Kong now recommend that we "listen

to the views of the delegation in June and then respond

afterwards". The reason for this change of heart is Hong

Kong's wish to give the LegCo delegation "face" by

demonstrating that Ministers had taken account of the

delegation's views before reaching a decision.

5.

The Home Office have told us that a draft reply to Mr

Goodlad's letter is now with Mr Wardle and should issue this

week. They expect it to say that they do not see a case for

giving citizenship to this group, but that they see merit in using the visiting delegation as a peg on which to hang this

message.

6.

We had hoped for an early reply from the Home Office, to

allow Mr Goodlad to write to the Chief Secretary well before

the Minister's visit to Hong Kong (29 May to 1 June) so that

there would be an interval between LegCo receiving the

unwelcome (if familiar) message and Mr Goodlad's arrival in

Hong Kong. Another reason for an early reply was to show LegCo that Ministers were indeed considering the representations made during their March debate

our telegram

sub.legcovis.NAT

JEB/JRB

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