GPS 220
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 261006Z JAN 81
TO PRIORITY FCO
HKK 340l1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 0 3 FEB1981
DESK OFFICER
CONFIDENTIALINDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Take.
TELEGRAM NUMBER 72 OF 26 JANUARY
FOLLOWING FOR DONALD FROM GOVERNOR
NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION.
See (23
24
25
1. AS WE HAVE FORECAST UNOFFICIALS HAVE REACTED TO THE NATIONALITY
BILL WITH DISMAY AND SUSPICION.
2. FEELING THAT THIS LEGISLATION REFLECTS A NEW DECISION TO
DISTANCE HONG KONG FROM UK HAS BEEN REINFORCED BY THE SHORT TIME ALLOWED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. IT DID NOT HELP THAT
THEY READ THIS IN THE PRESS BEFORE I COULD FOREWARN THEM.
3. THEY NOW ARE CONVINCED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND FCO HAVE
DONE TOO LITTLE TO HELP.
including Hougkay.
4. IT WOULD HELP IF IN THE COURSE OF THE SECOND READING AT LEAST
THE FOLLOWING 3 ASSURANCES WERE GIVEN BY MINISTERS: (A) ON LINES SET OUT IN PARA 16 OF THE WHITE PAPER: (B) THAT IF, AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES IN THE BILL, CBDT'S (OR WHATEVER THEY ARE EVENTUALLY CALLED) FIND THAT THIRD COUNTRIES MAKE NEW DIFFICULTIES OVER ENTRY HMG WILL MAKE THE STRONGEST
REPRESENTATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE EXISTING FREEDOM OF TRAVEL IS
MAINTAINED, AND
(C) THAT ALTHOUGH SO MANY CBDTS RESIDE IN HONG KONG, THIS DOES NOT,
REPEAT NOT, MEAN THAT THE PROPOSALS ARE PARTICULARLY DIRECTED TOWARDS HONG KONG.
5. THE HONG KONG OFFICE IS ARRANGING FOR SIR S Y CHUNG AND MR O V
CHEUNG TO CALL ON MR WHITELAW NEXT WEEK. WHILST IN LONDON I HOPE IT WILL BE CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO CALL ON MR BLAKER AND, IF HE IS SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE, THE LORD PRIVY SEAL TOO.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
NTD
HK&GD
PS/LPS
PS/MR BLAKER
>
SIR E YOUDE
MR DONALD
MK ADAMS
CONFIDENTIAL
201