Mr Morrice HGD
PS / Mr Blücher.
Mr Donald
es.
NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION
Problem
SECRET
Secutary of State
We sprice Sie E Haude
пиць
сс
See (91)
+
(8)
237/ñ
84)
Private Secretary HKK 340/1
PS/Mr Lee
PS/Mr BlaiD 14 SEMARY NO. 51 Sir E Youde 2 5 MAR 1981
Mr Adans
ESK OLMICER INDEX
Mr Jones N
مند
FA
REGISTRY Acton Taken
£30.3. Pao 30/3
for.
1. The Home Secretary has agreed to Lord Carrington's request fe
official talks on Hong Kong's main concerns over the draft Nationality
Bill. We need a line for FCO officials to take.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that officials be authorised to speak on the lines
of the attached draft brief.
Background
The Secretary of State saw Sir S Y Chung and Mr O V Cheung, senior
Hong Kong Unofficials, on 2 February. He minuted to the Home Secretary
A
(39 3.
B
52)
C
53A
on 5 February and Mr Whitelaw saw the Unofficials on 6 February.
4.
The point to which Lord Carrington drew Mr Whitelaw's attention
was the concern of locally-engaged Crown Servants in Hong Kong
(including Unofficials) that the new legislation would put them and
their dependents at risk in the event of a Chinese take-over of
Hong Kong. In practical terms their position would not be changed
but they fear that the change from Citizen of the United Kingdom and
Colonies to Citizen of the British Dependent Territories would lessen
their claim on the United Kingdom for a haven in case of a take-over.
Specifically, they are concerned at the wording of Schedule 1
Paragraph 1(3) of the draft Bill which would confine the right to
apply for naturalisation as British Citizens on the grounds of
Crown Service to Crown Servants 'under the Government of the
United Kingdom', ie those employed by Her Majesty's Government.
/Lord Carrington
SECRET