TNAG-2941-FCO40-4217-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 12

From: A J Langdon

273 2516

12 July 1993

Ms Walker

R

HILD 340/6

14 JUL 1993

c.c. Mr Griffith

Mr Rawsthorne o/r

Mr Moorey

Mr Whalley

Mr Walmsley

Mr Kelly

Mrs Kellas

Mr Thomas

Mr Rock

Miss Barnes-Jones? FCO

100

HONG KONG ETHNIC MINORITIES

Issue to be decided

When the Home Secretary discussed this with Mr Wardle and officials this morning he decided that the right thing to do was to make it clear that the Government's assurances to the ethnic minorities were confined to that category, and did not extend any more widely. It was also agreed that Mr Wardle should indicate this in his speech in the House of Commons tomorrow on the two Hong Kong Orders in Council. I am separately submitting speaking material on those lines to Mr Wardle's office.

2. The Home Secretary's decision needs to be communicated both to the Governor of Hong Kong (to whom the Home Secretary promised in his letter of 8 July to "let you know what view I finally reach") and also to Ms Emily Lau, in reply to her letter of 23 June.

Timing

3. The letter should issue as soon as possible, and certainly before Mr Wardle speaks in the House of Commons tomorrow.

Summary

4. The attached drafts seek to go into as little argumentation as possible, but simply to record that the factors affecting the ethnic minorities do not apply to other categories.

Recommendation

5.

To write to the Governor of Hong Kong and Mrs Lau as in the attached drafts.

AJL

A J LANGDON

{B1896)