GRS 542
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 031236Z JUL 80
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER PERSONAL 531 OF 3 JULY
74
A.KK 240/
RECEIVED IN REGNY NO. 51
- 7 JUL.,80
34645KONFICER
INDEX
No
PA
RSGR 24/7
REGISTRY Action Taken
Aw22/
See 5
FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT
NATIONALITY LAW
1. THE WHITE PAPER IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED AT THE END OF
JULY. ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR ALL OAGS TO BRIEF LOCAL
MINISTERS ETC, VERY SHORTLY BEFORE PUBLICATION. HOWEVER, IN
VIEW OF HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR INTEREST AND SINCE YOU WILL
YOURSELF BE ON LEAVE AT THE END OF JULY, WE AGREE THAT YOU PUT
EXCO GENERALLY IN THE PICTURE ABOUT CITIZENSHIP CATEGORIES BEFORE
YOUR DEPARTURE WITH AN ORAL STATEMENT.
2. THERE ARE OF COURSE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH CAN BE SAID AT THIS
STAGE. PARTICULARLV ON THE CONTENT OF THE WHITE PAPER. AND IT
IS ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT NOTHING SHOULD BE REVEALED ABOUT INTER-
DEPARTMENTAL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN MINISTERS IN LONDON.
3. WE SUGGEST THAT YOU COULD USEFULLY MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:-
(A) MINISTERS HAVE CONSIDERED HONG KONG'S REPRESENTATIONS VERY
CAREFULLY AND SYMPATHETICALLY. AS A RESULT HONG KONG HAVE GAINED
MUCH, THOUGH NOT ALL THEY SOUGHT:
(B) MINISTERS INTEND TO PUBLISH A WHITE PAPER BEFORE THE SUMMER
RECESS, PROBABLY ABOUT THE END OF JULY. THIS SHOULD GIVE
SATISFACTION TO EXCO, SOME OF WHOSE MEMBERS ASKED FOR A WHITE
PAPER BEFORE A BILL SO AS TO GIVE A FIRM BASIS FOR HONG KONG FOR
COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS WELL BEFORE THE BILL IS PRESENTED: (C) THE ACTING GOVERNOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE EXCO A SUMMARY
OF THE PRINCIPAL POINTS IN THE WHITE PAPER IN CONFIDENCE
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ITS PUBLICATION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY
MORE ABOUT THEM NOW EXCEPT ON THE QUESTION OF NOMENCLATURE ON
WHICH EXCO HAVE TAKEN SUCH A CLOSE INTEREST:
1
CONFIDENTIAL