SECRET
SOUGHT ARE NOT IN FACT INTENDED TO PROVIDE HONG KONG ACCESS TO THE
UK IN A CRISIS IN ANYTHING LIKE THE NUMBERS WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE
DISQUIET TO WHICH YOU REFER, CONVERSELY, IF THE GOVERNMENT PUT THEM
FORWARD IN SUCH A WAY AS TO COVER ALL THE CROWN SERVANTS WHO WOULD
WISH TO HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY' IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT
TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENTS WITHOUT MAKING A REFERENCE TO HONG
KONG, INCLUDING ALLUSIONS TO THE FUTURE, AND RAISING OPPOSITION
HERE. THIS IS A REAL PARADOX TO WHICH IT IS NOT EASY TO SEE THE
ANSWER.
→
6. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THIS PROBLEM, WHICH YOU
MAY LIKE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN YOUR DISCUSSION WITH EXCO,
WITHOUT PLAYING UP ANY THOUGHT OF A RIFT BETWEEN FCO AND HOME
OFFICE. WE CAN ENVISAGE A PUBLIC DEFENCE BY MINISTERS WHICH REFERR-
ED TO THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO KEEP OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF NATURALIS–
ATION FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WHICH STRESSED THAT THIS WOULD ONLY BE APPLIED 'SPARINGLY'' (CF THE WHITE PAPER)
AS WOULD BE THE CASE WITH EMPLOYEES UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM. WE ALSO THINK IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO GIVE A
GENERAL ASSURANCE OUTSIDE THE BILL FOR THOSE AT REAL RISK IN ANY
DEPENDENT TERRITORY FOR WHICH INDEPENDENCE WAS UNLIKELY WITHOUT
NECESSARILY USING THE PHRASE 'CHANGE OF STATUS''. THE HOME OFFICE WOULD OBVIOUSLY FIND THE LATTER THOUGHT MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN ANY OF THE IDEAS IN YOUR TELNO 129,
66
7. THE NEXT STEP IS A FURTHER MEETING OF OFFICIALS ON 4 MARCH TO GET
HOME OFFICE VIEWS ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL WHICH WE HAVE PROPOS- ED, AND TO CONSIDER ANY PRESENTATIONAL FORMULAE WHICH MINISTERS COULD USE TO SUPPORT SUCH AMENDMENTS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS
FÜR THE LATTER - AND INDEED ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS - GRATEFUL TO
HAVE THESE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IN ANY CASE IT WOULD BE VALUABLE
TO HAVE A REPORT OF THE EXCO DELISERATIONS ON 3 MARCH DESKBY 04090OZ.
3. I AM SURE THAT, IN TALKING TO UNOFFICIALS, YOU HAVE LEFT THEM
IN NO DOUBT AS TO THE POLITICAL REALITIES IN UK TERMS. YOU MAY WISH
TO EMPHASISE TO THEM ON 3 MARCH THAT IT IS COMMON TO ALL
SHADES OF OPINION IN ALL PARTIES HERE THAT WE CANNOT HAVE AGAIN A
UNITARY FORM OF CITIZENSHIP WITH SOME HAVING THE RIGHT OF ABODE AND
OTHERS NOT. FAILURE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THAT IS A FAILURE TO UNDER- STAND THE POLITICAL MOOD HERE.
CARRINGTON
LIMITED
HK&GD
NTD
FED
PS
PS/LPS
PS/MR LUCE PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS
SIR E YOUDE MR DONALD MR ADAMS
-2-
SECRET
COPIES TO ::-
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE
LONDON.