HKK 340/1
RECEIVED
Y NO. 51
16 FEB 1981
BESK OFFER
INDEX
PA
$5.4
1st
---
REGISTAY Action Taken
PP HONG KONG
OR 450A
CONFIDENTIAL
NOLLOUT
FM FCO 061945Z FEB
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 115/OF 6TH FEBRUARY 1981
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON:-
3850.
See Hink 340|1
1482
112
J13.2.
3037
8102
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONGAID 061730
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG
TELEGRAM CUMBER HK 232 OF 6 FEBRUARY.
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY, UMELCO, FROM SIR S.Y. CHUNG
AND MR. OSWALD CHEUNG. IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION TO
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WITH COPY TO H.E. THE GOVERNOR.
1. WE HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY BOTH LORD
63A)
CARRINGTON AND MR WHITELAV, WHO LISTENED WITH UNDERSTANDING AND SYMPATHY ALL THE POINTS WE HAVE MADE.
2. WE HAVE FORMED THE OPINION THAT IT IS NOT PRACTICAL POLITICS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
3. OUR MAIN THRUST HAS DEEN, FIRST, THAT THE
CHANGE OF CITIZENSHIP SHOULD NOT IN ANY WAY ERODE OUR EXISTING RIGHTS AND FACILITIES VIS A VIS THE UK OP
THIRD COUNTRIES AND, IF POSSIBLE, IMPROVED UPON, AND, SECONDLY, THAT THE DOOR SHOULD BE KEPT OPEN FOR US TO MAKE FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS ON ALL POINTS INCLUDING STATELESSNESS AND NATURALISATION AS MAY BE NECESSARY UPON A CLOSE SCRUTINY OF THE BILL AND ITS POSSIBLE EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES.
4. AS TO THE FIRST POINT BOTH MINISTERS CAVE AN ASSURANCE THERE WOULD BE NO EROSION OF OUR EXISTING RIGHTS VIS VIS THE UK-AND LORD CARPINGTON SAID HE WOULD USE HIS GOOD OFFICES TO TRY AND SECURE IMPROVEMENTS ON ACCESS TO THIRD COUNTRIES. AS REGARDS THIRD COUNTRIES WE SUGGESTED TO MR WHITELAW THAT THE UK SHOULD LEAD THE WAY BY GRANTING BUSINESSMEN AND OTHER HONG KONG CITIZENS WHO MIGHT HAVE NEED OF IT MULTIPLE RE-ENTRY PERMITS VALID FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS. HIS OFFICIALS PRESENT ASSURED HIM THAT IT WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER WITHIN HIS DEPARTMENT'S CONTROL AND HE WOULD THEREFORE CONSIDER IT.
5. AS TO THE SECOND POINT MR WHITELAW ASSURED
US ALL FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS WOULD BE SYMPATHETICALLY CONSIDERED.
6. HE WAS PARTICULARLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE UNDERSTANDING HONG KONG HAD SHOWN OVER THE COMPULSIONS UPON HMG WHICH NECESSITATED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL, AND RECOGNISED THAT IT WOULD OR MIGHT MAKE DIFFICULTIES FOR US WHICH HE WOULD REMOVE OR REDUCE WHEREVER POSSIBLE: ESPECIALLY CONSEQUENCES OR EFFECTS UNINTENDED WHICH HAD
NOT BEEN FORESEEN BY THE DRAFTSMAN. IT NOV DEVOLVES UPON US TO STUDY THE BILL VERY CLOSELY, TO LISTEN TO WHAT REPRESENTATIONS THAT MIGHT BE MADE TO UMELCO ON IT, AND THEN TO PUT FORWARD CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
7. WE WISH ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING BACK NEXT WEEK, OSSIE ON WEDNESDAY AND S.Y. ON THURSDAY.
ENDS