11
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 09010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 644
OF 081658Z JULY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
RESTRICTED,
Miss Bliss please Fax to Chais Kelly
917.
95)
043305 MDHOAN 5380
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PEKING FOR HUM (VISITING)
HONG KONG NATIONALITY: IMMIGRATION ASSURANCES
1. As you know Mr Wardle will speak in an adjournment debate on 9 July on the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. We understand this will be at 1430 our time (ie after the Secretary of State's press conference). It is now clear from the Home Secretary's letter of 8 July to you (faxed by HKD to Llewellyn) that Mr Wardle will confine his remarks during the debate to the ethnic minorities and will not address the issue of whether the assurance also applies to other (Chinese) British nationals who might in the future face pressure to leave the territory (as Mr Goodlad had suggested when he wrote to Mr Wardle on 6 July).
2. The Home Secretary has said that he has yet to reach a final view on this. We understand from his office that he would expect to do so early next week before the next opportunity for parliamentary debate on Hong Kong. On 13 July, Mr Wardle will present two Hong Kong related draft Orders in Council in committee for approval. The Orders are expected to be debated on 15 or 16 July in the Lords. Mr Goodlad will appear before the FAC to answer Hong Kong related questions on 14 July.
3. In the light of the Home Secretary's letter, if the Secretary of State is asked whether the Government's assurance applies to British nationals other than members of the non-Chinese ethnic minorities, we recommend that he should say that this is a matter for the Home Office that there is a debate in the House on the ethnic minorities later in the day, and that he notes the point and will discuss it with the Home Secretary on his return to the UK.
HURD
PAGE RESTRICTED
1
HCD 3486
:
10 JUL 1995
L
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.