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Brief No 6
12.15 PM FRIDAY, 6 OCTOBER
MEETING WITH UMELCO
Green Paper on the British Nationality Act
The unofficial members may well take this opportunity of expressing the fears they have about the effects on Hong Kong of the proposed changes in British Nationality law. Sir Y K Kan and Sir S Y Cheung, the senior members of the two councils, called on Lord Goronwy-Roberts last year to make clear their feelings. As Mr Davies mentioned to you during your meeting this month, since then public expressions of dissatisfaction have not been made but a number of members retain their private doubts. If the topic is raised you may wish to reassure the members that the proposals in the Green Paper do not imply any lessening in the commitment of the British Government to Hong Kong. The proposed changes will make no practical difference as far as the people of Hong Kong are concerned, though they are of considerable importance to the British Government for reasons not connected with Hong Kong.
nelations with the UK
A permanent problem. Many in Hong Kong, including Umelco members, feel that Hong Kong's interests are always subordinated to those of the UK. Last year's Multi-Fibre Agreement is the most recent striking example of this in their eyes. Mr Dell on his recent visit explained why the Community, including the UK, felt it necessary to regulate textile trade in this way and apparently pulled no punches. At the same time you could legitimately make clear that in the MFA, as in negotiations on Air Service Agreement and the current Multilateral Trade Negotiations, we do our utmost to ensure that Hong Kong's view is taken into account and we have been successful in this. Our success is not diminished simply because the Hong Kong view does not prevail. Ministers are aware of HMG's responsibility towards Hong Kong, but they also have a responsibility to the
/UK