GAS a50
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTAL
(92)
FM FCO 201615Z SEP 79
TOP COPT
TO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE
HKK 340
TELEGRAM NO 230 OF 20 SEP.
RÆCLIVED IN REGSIEM NO. 51
2 1 SEP 1979
FOLLOWING FOR D F MURRAY FROM MCLAREN
NATIONALITY BILL
९३
DESK OFFICIN
MIDEX
مله
PA
1. I HAVE DISCUSSED YOUR MINUTE OF 19 SEPTEMBER ABOUT HONG KONG WITH CORTAZZI. WE AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE WORTH ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO EXPAND ON THE LIKELY CONSEQUENCES IF THE GOVERNMENT WENT AHEAD WITH A BILL ON THE LINES NOW ENVISAGED BY THE HOME OFFICE.
2. WE ALSO SUGGEST THAT YOU RAISE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(4) NOMENCLATURE
nee (95)
THE GOVERNOR HAS SO FAR INSISTED ON THE RETENTION OF THE TITLE ''CUKC'' FOR CATEGORY B (BRITISH SUBJECTS WITH RIGHTS OF ENTRY AND ABODE IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES), AND HAS DESCRIBED THE ALTERNATIVES SUGGESTED BY THE HOME OFFICE AS 'DISASTROUS". WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON HIS BEHALF BUT THE GOVERNOR MUST RECOGNISE THAT WE ARE LIKELY TO LOSE IN THE END. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE VERY HELPFUL IF HE COULD NOW FOCUS ON THE QUESTION OF ALTERNATIVE TITLES, AND TO HAVE HIS ADVICE ON:
(1) IF CUKC CANNOT BE RETAINED, WOULD IT BE BEST TO DROP THE IDEA OF THREE CITIZENSHIPS AND REVERT TO THE TWO PROPOSED IN THE 1977 GREEN PAPER, AND TO THE TITLES SUGGESTED THERE (BRITISH CITIZEN AND BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN)? OR
(11) F NOT, WHAT NEW TITLE FOR THOSE IN CATEGORY B WOULD BE LEAST DAMAGING FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF HONG KONG?
(3) DETAIL
HONG KONG HAVE RECENTLY SOUGHT CLARIFICATION OF PARA.46 OF THE GREEN PAPER ON THE TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP BUT HAVE NOT OTHERWISE COMMENTED ON THE DETAILED PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE GREEN PAPER, THIS IS NO DOUBT BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL HONG KONG OBJECTIVE WAS TO GET THE WHOLE SCHEME DROPPED. IT WOULD NOW BE HELPFUL IF HONG KONG OFFICIALS COULD CONCENTRATE ON THE SMALL PRINT OF THE GREEN PAPER AND CONSIDER WHETHER THERE ARE ANY OTHER POINTS WHICH AFFECT HONG KONG INTERESTS.
CARRINGTON
FILES
HNGD (4)
NTD
MR CORMAZZI
MR FIGG
30
CONFIDENTAL