UNCLASSIFIED
4703-
1
AND PARTICULARLY THE AVOIDANCE OF THE FEELING THAT THE
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL ARE DIRECTED AGAINST THE
DEPENDENCIES. AS ONE HON. MEMBER PUT IT THE EFFECT ON
MORALE IS CONSIDERABLE. THESE QUESTIONS CAN CAUSE
CONSIDERABLE ANXIETIES WHEN THE DEPENDENCIES ARE UNDER THE
IMPRESSION HOWEVER MISCONCEIVED THAT THE BILL WEAKENS
6.
-
►
THEIR LINKS WITH THE UK. FOR AS WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THIS
BILL IN NO WAY ALTERS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE
TERRITORIES AND THE UK NOR OUR OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS
TO THE DEPENDENCIES.'
MR LUCE DEALT IN GENERAL TERMS WITH THE NUMBERS AFFECTED BY
THE CROWN SERVICE PROVISION. (THE TOTAL IN THE DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES WAS ABOUT 150,000). IT WOULD BE APPLIED SPARINGLY
AND INDIVIDUAL CASES WOULD BE JUDGED ON MERIT. HOWEVER, THE
CLAUSE RECOGNISED THAT THERE COULD BE CASES OF PERSONS SERVING
THE CROWN OVERSEAS WHO BY DINT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CROWN SERVICE AND İN OTHER PERSONAL WAYS HAD BECOME SO CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH
THE UK THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN BRITISH
CITIZENSHIP. IT WAS WRONG THAT THEY SHOULD BE EXCLUDED AS HAD
BEEN THE CASE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE BILL.
CARRINGTON
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION:
LIMITED
PS/MR BLAKER
HKGD
NTD
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
PS
MR DONALD
PS/LPS
MR ADAMS
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
2
UNCLASSIFIED