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FM HONG KONG 310506Z JAN 81
TO PRIORITY FCO
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TELEGRAM NUMBER 95 OF 31 JANUARZEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
03 FEB 1981
S
MIPT
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Joe Gr
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
soifte)
MY COLLEAGUES AND I, THE LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE, WISH TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE OUR GRAVE CONCERN OVER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL WHICH WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 14 JANUARY 1981 AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH COLONIAL REGULATIONS 168 TO 170, TO SEEK YOUR INDULGENCE IN TRANSMITTING. THIS SUBMISSION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. ~
OUR WORST FEARS OVER THE INTENTIONS OF PARAGRAPH 70 OF THE WHITE PAPER, ON WHICH WE ADDRESSED THE CHIEF SECRETARY ON 26 SEPTEMBER 1980, NOW APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REALISED AS THE PROVISIONS IN THE PRESENT BILL SEEM TO CLOSE THE DOOR FIRMLY AGAINST ANY PERSON WHO HAS SERVED THE CROWN LOYALLY IN HONG KONG FROM BEING ACCORDED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP. WE ARE DEEPLY DISTRESSED OVER THIS DEVELOPMENT AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR FEELINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY PERSONALLY IF YOU, SIR, COULD GRACIOUSLY GRANT A GROUP OF FOUR OR FIVE OF US AN INTERVIEW.
WE MUCH APPRECIATE THE SYMPATHY YOUR EXCELLENCY HAS FOR OUR PLEA AND WILL NOT BURDEN YOU, SIR, BY REPEATING AGAIN THE ARGUMENTS IN OUR LETTER OF 26 SEPTEMBER, PARTICULARLY AS I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF LEAVING A COPY OF THAT SUBMISSION AT THE HONG KONG DEPARTMENT WHEN I CALLED AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, IN LONDON, LAST OCTOBER. BUT IT BEARS REPEATING THAT BECAUSE OF OUR LOYALTY TO THE CROWN WE CAN EXPECT ANYTHING BUT FAVOURABLE TREATMENT IF HONG KONG WERE EVER TO REVERT TO CHINA. CHINA IS A ONE PARTY COMMUNIST STATE, ITS FOUR MODERNISATIONS NOTWITHSTANDING.
THE RECENT TRIAL OF THE GANG OF FOUR HAS, IF ANYTHING, RE-EMPHASIZED THAT COMMUNIST JUSTICE BEARS NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE QUEEN'S JUSTICE UNDER WHICH WE WERE ALL NURTURED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE ASSURANCE GIVEN TO ME AND OTHERS ON 19 OCTOBER 1967 BY THE THEN MINISTER OF STATE, THE LORD SHEPHERD, AND WHICH WAS REFERRED TO IN OUR SUBMISSION OF 26 SEPTEMBER 1987, THAT CROWN SERVICE WAS INDIVISIBLE, WE ARE DISMAYED THAT CLAUSES 4(1) AND 46(1) OF THE BILL, READ TOGETHER WITH PARAGRAPHS 1(1) (D) (II) AND 1(3) OF SCHEDULE 1, NOW SO OBVIOUSLY EXCLUDES CROWN SERVICE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND NORTHERN IRELAND FROM CONSIDERATION FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.
SIR, WE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CONSIDERED VIEW OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, AND VENTURE TO SUBMIT ACCORDINGLY.
SIGNED E. P. HO.
MACLEHOSE
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