TNAG-2941-FCO40-4217-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 94

Mr Holmes

Assistant, SAD

Reference.

73

HONG KONG NATIONALITY QUESTIONS: THE ETHNIC MINORITIES

1.

2.

(72)

Mr Smith's minute of 27 April to Mr Ricketts.

A

You will wish to be aware that Hong Kong's Legislative Council have been pressing the case for British citizenship for those Hong Kong residents who have solely British nationality and are of non-Chinese descent the ethnic minorities, most of whom are Indian by descent. Our telno 570 records a call by a LegCo delegation on Mr Goodlad. They also called on the Home Secretary, who made it very clear that he had no plans and no intention of introducing the new legislation which would be needed to grant British citizenship to this community.

3. We are providing New Delhi with copies of the briefing we prepared on this subject - I enclose a copy for you.

4. We would welcome an opportunity to brief Sir J Coles on this subject in any future discussions he may hold with the Indians.

5.

Mr Smith's minute under reference asked us provide a copy of Lord Howe's report on Human Rights in China to the Indians. This report has still not issued in final form - as soon as it does we will make sure that copies are sent to the Indians.

Mccones Jones

min.holdes.NAT

JEB

CODE 18-77

Deborah Barnes Jones Hong Kong Department Room WH312, telno 270.2068

14 June 1993

HKD 340/6

14 JUN 1993