SECRET
HKK
34011
RECEIVED MAY NO. 51
16 MAR 1981
DECK OFICER INDEX
FA
137
MEETING BETWEEN MR LUCE AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG: MARCH 1981
Present
Mr Richard Luce MP
Mr W Jones
Mr R D Clift
Mr M J K Rickerd
Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO
HONG KONG: NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION
1.
Mr Luce said that following the meeting of the Governor with the (33) Secretary of State on 10 March he had spoken to Mr Raison in the
Home Office pressing Hong Kong's case. The arguments for the Nationality Bill were domestic; there were no advantages to the FCO in it. He expected the Home Office to take the line with the Governor that they had already agreed to the third category of citizenship for Dependent Territories and were concerned that there might be no end to the concessions which they would be called on to make.
2. Sir Murray MacLehose said that he would explain to Mr Whitelaw the reason why the practical erosion of rights which people in Hong Kong saw in the Bill had revived suspicion about the basic purpose of the legislation. If the Bill had been neutral this would not have arisen.
3. Mr Luce said he saw no hope for the idea of the title 'British (Hong Kong) Citizen', although some reference to Hong Kong could be put on passports.
4.
Mr Luce then raised the question of separate citizenship for Dependent Territories. This was something for which the Governor of Gibraltar had asked. It would help the FCO if it were possible to include an enabling clause in the Bill saying that separate citizen- ship could be allotted to Dependent Territories at a future date under the CBDT umbrella. This would be completely optional for all depen- dencies. Mr Jones explained that under such a concept citizenship would remain under Westminster rather than local control. Mr Luce said that in return for this, Dependent Territories would be expected to grant the right of abode to their citizens. Sir M MacLehose said that at present anybody in Hong Kong with an identity card had the right of abode. For Hong Kong the point was a different one.
It was connected with relations with China and probable Chinese suspicions that separate citizenship would mean the setting-up of an independent city state. This could be a serious problem. Moreover, it would be unfortunate to encourage the very small independence lobby in Hong Kong. Mr Luce asked if Hong Kong would be embarrassed if an option to this effect which Hong Kong could refuse were included in the Bill. Sir M MacLehose said that he would need to consult his Executive Council; Peking should also be consulted. There was a danger of such a move being misunderstood in Hong Kong where people were very much against the reduction of the British connection,
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