A
A
102A
172
Private Secretary
BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL
Problem
Type
NSD
CONFIDENTIAL
RuyL
HKK 34011
M
RECEIVED IN SECWPY MO. 51 3 Q MAR 1981
DESK OLACER INDEX
PA
830.3.
REGISTRY Action Takep
PC 314
1. To reply to Sir S Y Chung's letter to the secretary of Stat
which gave the views of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and
Legislative Councils (UMELCO) on the British Nationality Bill.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that the Secretary of State reply along the lines
of the attached draft. I also attach a draft covering letter from
you to the Governor and draft telegrams containing an advance
copy of the text of the letter. NTD agree.
Background and Argument
3. Sir S Y Chung wrote to the Secretary of State on 27 February,
following the visit which Mr O V Cheung and he had made to London
to see the Home Secretary and Lord Carrington. The purpose of the
letter was to set out in detail the 'unanimous' views of UMELCO
on the Nationality Bill and to seek amendments to it.
4.
Subsequent developments in the Executive Council led to the
Governor coming to discuss Hong Kong's problems with FCO and Home
Office Ministers. Draft amendments to the Bill, which should meet
most of Hong Kong's points, are being considered separately (my
submission of today). However, Sir S Y Chung should get a reply to
his letter, although it would best best not to go into any detail
in writing as to the amendments which the Government hopes to secure
in Committee. The attached draft therefore only mentions the
recent talks with the Governor and the fact that he will have put
the amendments to the Executive Council and that the Secretary of
/State
(102A)
CONFIDENTIAL