HKK 3401
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 CONFIDENTIAL 9 MAR 1980
DESK OFFICER
34
Mr Certazzi
INDEX
M
RESTRY
PA
Acio Take
820.3
AW 2/3
33
NATIONALITY LAW : KEBTING WITH IM WOODFIELD
1.
In paragraph 3 of his minute of 17 March, Mr Jones queries whether we need to consult FCO Ministers both before and after
telegraphing to Hong Kong.
2.
We certainly should consult Ministers beforehand so that we can meet the Governor's point that EXCO will need to be assured that the Secretary afftate has fully considered the representations which Unofficials have made. I do not think we need necessarily re-submit after that although it may depend on the nature of the Hong Kong reaction. Provided that the Secretary of State had made clear that he understood Hong Kong's concern and was prepared to support strongly reasonable adjustments in nomenclature to meet their point of view (ag on the retention of "British Subject") that should be enough. But we should presumably keep open the option of a second submission in case, for instance, we wanted to get a Minister to write to the Home Office.
18 March 1980
RD Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
ir Murray Mr Piss Mr Jones (NTD
180)pa
19/3
CONFIDENTIAL