241
CONFIDENTIAL GAS 320 CONTIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 281242Z APR 81
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 446 OF 28 APRIL
INFO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
FOR YOUDE FROM GOVERNOR.
2407
YOUR TELNO 425: NATIONALITY BILL.
YOUR TELEGRAM IS WORRYING,
TOP CORY
AKK 34011
RECEIVE IN ALGASTRY HO. 51 29 APRI931
DECK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
2. 1 UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A NAME, PARTICULARLY TO CHINESE.
من
THE SUBSTANCE AND NAME OF THE BILL AND THE DEBATES IN COMMITTEE THE
AND COMMENTS BY VISITING MPS HAVE CONFUSED PEOPLE HERE, AND THEY NOW BELIEVE THEIR NATIONALITY (IE THEIR RIGHT TO BRITISH
PROTECTION IN THIRD COUNTRIES) IS BEING CHANGED AS AN ACT OF UK DISINTEREST. SINCE THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BILL, IT CAN ONLY BE PUT RIGHT BY AN AMENDMENT OR ADDITION TO THE BILL. I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND WHY THE HOME OFFICE ARE NOT PREPARED TO PUT THIS RIGHT BY AN ADDIONAL CLAUSE MERELY STATING WHAT YOU ASSURE US IS A FACT, NAMELY THAT CBDTS REMAIN BRITISH NATIONALS. I AM DISMAYED THAT YOU
MERELY STATE THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE.
3. I HAD A STORMY MEETING WITH EXCO THIS MORNING. MEMBERS
REASONABLY POINTED OUT THAT IF THEIR NATIONALITY COULD NOT BE STATED IN THE BILL TO BE BRITISH IT MUST BE BECAUSE THE INTENTION IS TO END THE BRITISH NATIONALITY OF CBDTS. THIS IS CERTAINLY WHAT THE PUBLIC WILL DEDUCE.
4. NOR CAN THERE BE ANY ROOM FOR ARGUMENT ABOUT ACCURATELY RECORDING NATIONALITY IE ''NATIONAL STATUS'', IN PASSPORTS
•
See (251)
AS ''BRITISH''. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS PASSPORTS DO AND ARE FOR, IN ADDITION TO RECORDING CITIZENSHIP. I DO NOT THEREFORE SEE WHY
IT SHOULD BE SEEN AS A CONCESSION ONLY TO BE ACHIEVED WITH ''GREAT DIFFICULTIES''.
5. AT THE TIME OF THE S OF S' VISIT CONCERN WAS RESTRICTED TO THE INTELLIGENZIA AND TRAVELLING PUBLIC, BUT IT IS NOW BECOMING A GENERAL ISSUE AND COUPLED WITH OTHER THINGS, THE LEASE ETC. I SEE NEITHER LOGIC NOR ANY UK INTEREST IN THE HOME OFFICE'S
ATTITUDE. NEITHER IMMIGRATION NOR CONFUSION ABOUT WHO IS
ENTITLED TO ENTER OR LIVE IN THE UK ARE AT ISSUE IN OUR PROPOSAL (AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVER OUR ORIGINAL SUGGESTION TO MAKE SPECIAL SUB-DIVISIONS FOR COLONIES IN BRITISH CITIZENSHIP). IF
SERIOUS AND UNNECESSARY TROUBLE IS TO BE AVOIDED HERE AND
CONCEIVABLY MISUNDERSTANDING IN PEKING- THE HOME OFFICE MUST BE
CONVINCED OF THE NEED FOR A NEW CLAUSE.
CON
6. 1 SHOULD BE OBLIGED IF THE S OF S COULD SEE THIS TELEGRAM.
MACLEHOSE
With
246
~~
Rs/Me RIDLEY
Six Youac
пре доглед 7. ADAYS
Cafic's
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HONG KONG Gour office
STIAL
LONDON
another
zu amitter noted Pas 815
ween $7.5.
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week
Dis.
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