HKK
R MAR
BEEK OUNCES
34011
YNG. $1
Tyb
INDEX
PA
PESTRY
Action Taken
800 8/5
CO HONG KONG
CPS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FII FCO 161323Z MAR 81
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 435 OF 16 MARCH
Copy
set to HICGO
18/3/81
FOLLOWING FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
BEGINS
FOR DAVIES FROM CHAN
BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL
NO C
"
FCO TELNO 236 OF 1P MARCH AND YOUR TELECON WITH FORD EARLIER TODAY.
(141)
I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO JONES OF 1. AND T. DEPARTMENT AND HE HAS LARGELY REAFFIRMED THE POINTS MADE IN PARA 17 OF THE DRAFT EXCO MEMO PREPARED HERE LAST FRIDAY. IN FACT HE WENT A BIT FURTHER AND SAID THAT PERHAPS THE ONLY OPTION OPEN AS RECARDS THE NOMENCLATURE FOR ANY SEPARATE CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE POSSIBLE ENABLING CLAUSE WOULD BE QUOTE C OF THE RDT OF X UNQUOTE. ON THE OTHER HAND HE EXPLAINED THAT THE CONCEPT OF AN ENABLING CLAUSE WAS STILL IN A QUOTE VERY FORMATIVE STAGE UNQUOTE. SUCH A CLAUSE IS REING CONTEMPLATED LARGELY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF:
(A) THE POSITION OF ONE OR TWO DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: AND C) THE STRONG FEELING WHICH IS CAINING WEIGHT AMONG MP'S IN BOTH PARTIES THAT CITIZENSHIP SHOULD CARRY WITH IT CLEAR RIGHTS (EG OF ABODE) AND OBLIGATIONS AND THAT, IN THIS RESPECT, A COMPOSITE CEDT MAY NOT BE AN ADEQUATE ANSWER.
3. JONES ALSO SAID THAT, AS FAR AS (A) ABOVE IS CONCERNED, ONLY GIBRALTAR IS CLEARLY INTERESTED IN A SEPARATE CITIZENS!!IP AT PRESENT, BUT EVEN THEM PAY NOT FMD THE EVENTUAL TERMS OF SUCH CITIZENSHIP SUFFICIENTLY ATTRACTIVE. SEPARATE CITIZENS!!IPS WOULD CAUSE PRESENTATIONAL DIFFICULTIES TO 10 G KONG AND PERMUDA AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES TO HTHE FALKLAND ISLANDS. THE OTHER DEPENDENCIES ARE PERHAPS TOO SMALL TO ME REALLY CONCERNED.
4. 1 CXPLAINED TO JONES OUR WORRIES (AS SET OUT IN PARA 10 OF THE EXCO MERO AS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED). HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEMS BUT THOUGHT THEY COULD TE OVERCOME
IM PROPER PRESENTATION. HE HOPED THAT HONG KONG WOULD FEEL ABLE TO
NOT TO OBJECT STRONGLY TO THE ENABLING CLAUSE. I SAID I COULD
NOT PREJUDGE EXCO'S ADVICE.
ENDS
CARRINGTON