PP GOV HONG KONG
GRS 290
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 081315Z MAY 31
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 445 OF
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
HKK 340/9404
-
1
RECEIVED PROPRY NO. 51
1 1 MAY 1981
DESK OLACER
RECHERY
Action Takan
INDEX
PA
мо
f11.5.
Pas 1115
MAY.
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY
YOUR TELNO 485: NATIONALITY BILL
~50
I.
CLEARLY WE MUST NOW AWAIT THE HOME SECRETARY'S ANSWER
AND I SHALL BE REVIEWING THE SITUATION IN THE LIGHT OF THAT.
2. I THINK I SHOULD GIVE YOU SOME OF THE BACKGROUND AS SEEN
BY THE MINISTER WHO IS CONCERNED WITH FCO INTERESTS IN THIS
BILL. THE CONCESSIONS WE OBTAINED FOR HONG KONG WERE WON
WITH SOME DIFFICULTY AND THERE IS A STRONG IMPRESSION ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE COMMITTEE THAT A GREAT DEAL HAS ALREADY
BEEN DONE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THE
CROWN COLONY..
3. HOME OFFICE MINISTERS WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IF YOU OBTAINED THE INSERTION OF THE NEW CLAUSE ON REGISTRATION AND CROWN SERVANTS, YOU AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT CARRY ON THE CAMPAIGN FOR FURTHER CHANGES (I AM QUOTING
FROM THE RECORD OF YOUR MEETING WITH THE HOME SECRETARY
ON II MARCH).
4. I OF COURSE REALISE THAT YOU ARE STILL UNDER SEVERE
PRESSURE FROM YOUR UNOFFICIALS AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING
YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT SOME OF THEM FROM LOBBYING FURTHER
HERE IF THEY SO WISH. THEY AY ALSO BE THINKING OF INVOKING
THE AID OF MPS SYMPATHETIC TO HONG KONG BUT I WONDER WHETHER
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH FURTHER LOBBYING WOULD NOT BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE AND ULTIMATELY AGAINST THE INTERESTS
OF HONG KONG. WE SHALL BE LUCKY IF THE BILL AS IT MORE OR
LESS STANDS PASSES THROUGH THE THIRD READING. IF A DEBATE
STARTED IN PARLIAMENT ABOUT A FURTHER CONCESSION FOR HỎNG KONG I WOULD NOT CARE TO HAZARD HOW THIS WOULD TURN OUT. THERE
IS A DANGER THAT THE SYMPATHY FOR HONG KONG WHICH WE HAVE
see 256
чита
264
130
#139
259
1
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
CAREFULLY NATURED WOULD BEGIN TO EVAPORATE.
5. ME ARĖ MEANWHILE URGENTLY PREPARING FURTHER BRIEFING
MATERIAL FOR YOUR USE.
CARRINGTON
NNNN
LIMITED
HD/HKGD
HD/NTD
PS/MR LUCE
CHIEF CLERK
AR DONALD
MR ADAMS
X
2
CONFIDENTIAL
9434 - 1
ODE 18-77
SS 8/78
C
Mr Morrice
Mr Clift
Reference
CONFIDENTIAL
ник 340/1
RECEIVED IN RETRY NO. 51
8 MAY 1981
DESK OLMICER
ÍNDEX
REGISTRY
Action Taken
PA
Мо
f115.
253
NATIONALITY BILL
1.
I had lunch today with a group calling itself 'Representatives of the Association of Natives of New Kowloon'. They are in fact the old leaders of the Kwun Tong Kaifong Associations from East Kowloon who with some exceptions, have been surplanted by the Mutual Aid Committees and District Advisory Boards. I got to know them when I was City District Officer Kwan Tong in 1969-70.
2.
I was grilled about the Nationality Bill but only on one aspect of it, namely whether UMELCO had done a secret deal with the Hong Kong Government and HMG that they should personally be given the right to British Citizenship. I, of course, denied the existence of such a deal but it is interesting that it should be thought to exist. The group are conservative middle class and clearly worried about the future;
if UMELCO have done a deal, they would like to do one too!
3. I thought you should be aware of this suspicion. I had not heard of it before but if it gained wide currency in Hong Kong it could become embarrassing.
7 May 1981
P J Williamson
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL