7
Private Secretary
sofretary
SECRET
NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION:
SUMMARY OF SUBMISSION OF 18 FEBRUARY
Problem
1.
نها
رو
Secretary of State
HIGI
HIKO 340||
24 FEB 1981
DESK DENVER
INDEX
PA
4.
REGISTRY Action Taken
منان
8303.
Pas 3013
Line for officials to take with Home Office on 24 February
on Hong Kong's concerns on Nationality Bill.
Recommendation
2.
The recommended line is in the attached draft brief
agreed by Mr Blaker and Sir E Youde.
зда
53A
Background
3.
Since the Secretary of State and Mr Whitelaw saw Hong Kong
Unofficials at the beginning of February, the Governor has urged
that assurances should be sought to cover the problems both of
Crown Servants and Unofficials and all Hong Kong British Passport-
holders in general. He stresses the importance of doing this by
amendment to the Nationality Bill. He would prefer comprehensive
amendments to Schedule 1 to permit Hong Kong Crown Servants to apply
for naturalisation as British Subjects and also to improve the
prospects for naturalisation of Citizens of the British Dependent
Territories (CBDTs).
4.
The Home Office are concerned at the potential numbers
involved, even for Crown Servants. The Home Secretary, in his
78A reply to the Secretary of State, speaks of 'a massive potential
immigration commitment'.
5.
•
Because of the number of rival
lobbies on the
Nationality Bill and because Home Office and FCO Ministers
will have jointly to defend any proposed amendments against
critics from a number of quarters, it will be very difficult
SECRET
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