CODE 18-77
Mr Hopeace 220/5
Morrice Willian
Mr Williamson
NATIONALITY LAW
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference
AKK 3401
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 0 2 JUN 1980
DESK OFFER
INDEX но
PA
No.6
REGISTRY Action Taken
AW 1016
sex s
1. Mr Jones (NTD) tells me that a meeting has now been pro- visionally fixed between the Home Secretary and Lord Carrington for the morning of 2 June, to discuss the question of title of Dependent Territories belongers. It is not know whether the Foreign Secretary will be able to do this himself, but we must work on the assumption that he will.
2.
Mr Jones has suggested to the Private Office, as was intended for the Lord Privy Seal, that Lord Carrington should be briefed by officials, including HKGD, before he sees Mr Whitelaw. This could take place next week, or possibly on the morning of 2 June before the Ministerial discussion. If the former, I should be grateful if Mr Morrice could take it on. I shall be back on 2 June.
3. Would Mr Williamson please draft a note of the points which we should emphasise to the Secretary of State. They should include the following:
(a)
(b) Nationality law in the context of our general relations with Hong Kong (DCA and, possibly, Iran sanctions). (c) Our undertaking to allow the Governor another discussion with Exco following the meeting with the Home Secretary. (d) If the Home Secretary is unwilling to accept the prefix
"British Subject" for Dependent Territories belongers, we would advise the Secretary of State to accept that that section of the White Paper should therefore be left imprecise and subject to further amendment taking account of reactions to the White Paper from the Dependent Territories.
(e) The need for advance notice to all Dependent Territories
of the general outline of the White Paper.
4.
Could we discuss this at the departmental meeting on 22 May?
फिर
R D Clift
20 May 1980
Hong Kong and General Department
38
CONFIDENTIAL
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