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6.
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The best form would probably be composite:
a) an assurance to senior civil servants in the reply to
the petition;
b) a confidential statement to the Unofficials, either by
the Governor, or possibly by the Secretary of State when he visits the Territory;
c) a statement by Ministers, either in the Nationality Bill context or in answer to an inspired PQ giving a general undertaking to Dependent Territories on the lines suggested in paragraph 5 of the paper.
Conclusions
7.
8.
We should aim at:
a) achieving amendments to the Bill in order of preference
in paragraph 3;
b) as a fall-back, an assurance to public servants.
If the Home Secretary agrees to talks between officials, we should use the agreed priorities as a brief.
9.
If he does not, we should recommend that Lord Carrington write again to the Home Secretary expanding on our case and in the first place putting our ideas on amendments to the Bill in more detail.
5 February 1981
Дир
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
сс
PS/Mr Luce
Mr Rushford, Legal Advisers
Mr Adams
Mr Jones, NTD
Mr Paterson, NTD
This is a
useful note
ou
I
afree
that it should
the options.
be the paper for discussion among Fro
officials, for the preparation of
h
we meet
Submission to Muisters. Might eady next week under your Charismanship?
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