GR 37%
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
:
FM MANILA 267850Z SE? 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 395 OF 26 SEPTEMBER
INFO SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG.
HKK340
MIKENJ
DESK
INDSX
FOR CORTAZZI FROM PS/MR BLAKER.
101
NATIONALITY BILL.
09
137
1. THE MINISTER OF STATE HAS BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE STRENGTH OF
CONCERN IN THE EXPATRIATE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES IN SINGAPORE AND
HONG KONG ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS THE HOME OFFICE ENVISAGE FOR TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT TO CHILDREN BORN OVERSEAS. MR BENTLEY HAS EMPHASISED THAT THERE IS SIMILAR CONCERN IN THE PHILIPPINES, IN SINGAPORE MR BLAKER SAW A COPY OF A LETTER DATED 29 AUGUST FROM THE CHIEF MANAGER OF THE CHARTERED BANK TO THE. HOME SECRETARY (HIGH COMMISSION HAVE FORWARDED COPY TO HEAD OF MTD). HE HAS ALSO SEEN RECENT CORRESPONDENCE FROM HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK TO VARIOUS M.P.S AND EARLIER LETTERS TO THE HOME OFFICE FROM THE BRITISH BANK OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND FROM THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (THIS WAS COPIED TO FCO AND DOT). 2. THE MINISTER OF STATE THINKS WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENTS CF TRADE AND INDUSTRY TO GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO THIS SERIOUS ISSUE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HOPE SECRETARY'S LETTER OF 52 AUGUST TO MR PYM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND ITS ACCOMPANYING MEMORANDUM. IN HIS VIEW THE HOME
OFFICE HAS FAILED TO JUSTIFY THE ASSERTION IN THE MEMORANDUM
I
Y
THAT PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRIES OF RIGRATION WILL MAKE
USE OF ANY CONCESSIONG' ETC, AS A REASON FOR EXCLUDING EXPATRIATE
BUSINESSMEN FROM THE RIGHT TO TRANSMIT CITIZENSHIP DEYOND THE FIRST
GENERATION. THE HOME OFFICE MIGHT BE ASKED TO EXPLAIN FURTHER
THE THINKING BEHIND THIS ASSERTION AND HOW EXACTLY ANY CONCESSION
MIGHT BE EXPLOITED AND BY WHO. AS WITH THE OTHER CLASSES FOR HICH THE HOME OFFICE IS PREPARED TO ALLOW A CONCESSION, PR BLAYER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM COULD BE DEALT WITH BY GOOD DRAFTING
VITHOUT APPEASING RACIALIST.
3. MR BLAKER WONDERS WHETHER THE HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE GAVE
ADEQUATE THOUGHT TO THE CONSTRAITS WHICH THE CURRENT MOVE OFFICE
PROPOSALS NICHT PLACE ON THE ABILITY OF FIRMS TO RECRUIT OR RETAIN
CONFIDENTIAL
/ BRITISH STAFF