GR 2335
ا الله
FRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 180253Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
mr. Thompan,
The Stagant would like
to discuss kis
TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.66 OF 18 JANUARY 78.
FOR STEWART FROM DAVIES.
GREEN PAPER ON BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW.
with
your
Richard Stage 1
BAR
Felsent to
NID
for comments
1. DURING YOUR VISIT, YOU SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD NOW MAKE FORMAL REPRESENTATIONS TO THE F.C.O REGARDING THE GREEN PAPER ON BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW.
2. IN PREPARING OUR VIEWS, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE ADVICE CONVEYED IN AMY'S LETTER OF 3RD AUGUST 1977 (REF.340/25), WE HAVE CONSIDERED AGAIN WHAT MIGHT BE THE POSITION OF THE 1.8M PERSONS IN HONG KONG WHO ARE TECHNICALLY STATELESS, BUT WHO, UNDER SECTION 2 OF THE
AS A IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, QUALIFY FOR CHINESE RESIDENT STATUS. RESULT THEY HAVE A STATUTORY RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG (SECTION 8(1)). THEIR SEPARATE STATUS AND THEIR USE OF A CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY FOR OVERSEAS TRAVEL DOES NOT GIVE RISE TO ANY DIFFICULTY AND SIMPLY DISTINGUISHES PETWEEN RESIDENTS WHO ARE CUKC S AND THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO HONG KONG AND HAVE A RIGHT TO RESIDE HERE, BUT WHO WERE NOT BORN HERE AND HAVE NOT BEEN NATURALISED.
3. COULD YOU SAY WHETHER ANY CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THIS NUMERICALLY LARGE GROUP AND WHETHER, IF THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER ARE IMPLEMENTED, WE ARE CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT THEIR PRESENT RIGHT OF ENTRY TO HONG KONG AND EXISTING RESIDENTIAL STATUS WOULD NOT BE CHANGED.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK&GD (5)
NTD
MVD
CONS DEPT
FED
CONFIDENTIAL