@ 140
WMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM F C O 21163OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 34011
CONFIDENTIAL
No
BLOX!
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. E 22 FEB 1978
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 132 JE 21 FEMRUARY
INFO PEKING
+
7
FOR DAVIES FROM STEWART
YOUR TELNOS 194 AND 195: SCMP ARTICLE ABOUT UK GREEN PAPER ON
BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW
1. THE ARTICLE WOULD SEEM TO HAVE BEEN SPARKED OFF BY A PQ ANSWERED
ON 17 FEBRUARY ABOUT THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO HAVE A RIGHT OF ENTRY
TO THE UK. MARGACH SPOKE TO ME ON 18 FEBRUARY AND SENTENCES 1, 3, 4 AND 6 OF YOUR SECOND TUR REFLECT MY COMMENTS,
2. WE DID NOT SAY THAT THE CHINESE HAVE QUOTE REPEATEDLY STRESSED
UNQUOTE THAT 1997 IS QUOTE MEANINGLESS AND IRRELEVANT UNQUOTE, OUR
STANDARD LINE HAS BEEN AND IS THE SAME AS THAT SUGGESTED BY THE
POLITICAL ADVISER.
3. NEITHER DID WE SUGGEST THAT ANY LEGISLATION WHICH MAY COME OUT
OF THE CURRENT GREEN PAPER WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED. SINCE
THE GREEN PAPER IS A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ONLY, WE HAVE NO MEANS OF KNOWING WHAT FORM ANY SUCH LEGISLATION MAY TAKE.
OWEN
FILES
HK & GD (5)
NEWS D
MVD
NTD
CCNS D
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL