CONFIDENTIAL
NATIONALITY BILL: ESSENTIAL FACTS
Introduction
1. The background to the Nationality Bill and Hong Kong's reaction
to it are contained in the note at Annex A. Lord Carrington saw
Sir S Y Chung and Mr O V Cheung (Senior Unofficial Members of the
Executive and Legislative Councils respectively) on 2 February.
They expressed concern that the Bill did not take Hong Kong's
special circumstances into account. They suggested that there
should be provision in it for naturalisation as British subjects
of those (including Unofficials) who had been in Crown Service
in Hong Kong. This remains their principal demand. Since then,
the Unofficials as a whole have become much more distrustful of
HMG's motives and demanding in the amendments they want. The
position has deteriorated so much that the Governor has felt
it necessary to come to the UK to prevent the Unofficials from
doing so themselves.
Present Position
2. The Unofficials' present position is contained in their
letter to Lord Carrington at Annex B (Sir S Y Chung specifically
asked that Lord Carrington see it before his meeting with the
Governor). (A summary of Hong Kong's requests is at Annex C).
Unofficials are concerned that they will lose two of their existing
rights & They are therefore demanding:
a) that Hong Kong Citizens of the United Kingdom and
Colonies (CUKCS) should continue to be allowed to
establish a right of abode in the UK after 5 years
residence here without naturalisation. Naturalisation
not required at present but proposed in Bill (1 at Annex C):
CONFIDENTIAL
/b)