GR 170
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 030816Z MAR 81
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 227 OF 3 MARCH
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
FOR YOUDE FROM GOVERNOR
NATIONALITY BILL
M.I.F.T. REPORTS ON TODAY'S EXCO MEETING.
TOP COPY
нки 3400
RECEIVED IN BURY NO. 51
3- MAR 1981
028K OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
303.
всро зов
See /118,
IT WAS SATISFACTORY
IN THAT UNOFFICIALS LEFT THINGS TO ME FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT NOW THAT THEY HAVE HAD TIME TO STUDY THE BILL THIS STRENGTH OF
FEELING IS OBVIOUS.
2. THEY HAD ASSUMED ON GOOD AUTHORITY THE BILL WOULD HAVE NO PRACTICAL EFFECT ON THEM. HOWEVER ON ANALYSIS OF THE BILL THERE ARE CLEAR EROSIONS OF EVEN THEIR EXISTING POSITION. THIS MAKES THEM ALL THE MORE SENSITIVE TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL SHOCK OF HAVING THEIR EXISTING CITIZENSHIP LEGISLATED AWAY.
3. THE COMBINATION OF PRACTICAL, POLITICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS HAS ACTED LIKE A CATALYST. CONCERN THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO REASSURE THOSE ON WHOM THE COLONY DEPENDS FOR ADMINISTRATION
AND ORDER IS ONE ASPECT. BUT THOUGH AT PRESENT REACTIONS ARE CONFINED TO THE SMALL, INFLUENTIAL AND ARTICULATE MINORITY, IF THEIR LEGITIMATE FEARS ARE NOT CALMED BY A SUBSTANTIAL RESPONSE BY H.M.G. THIS CONCERN COULD SPILL OVER AND AFFECT THE CONFIDENCE OF A MUCH WIDER SECTION OF THE POPULATION. THIS COULD BE SERIOUS.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HK & GD
NTD
FED
PS
PS/LPS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR E YOUDE
MR ADAMS
MR DONALD
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL
110