Original at: HKK 026/2
This Copy for:
Information only / Action on
だいな!
222
>
Mr Jones
NTD
(CL537)
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 3401 RELNYED A REGISTRY AP. 51.
13 APR 1981
INDE
ells $15.4.
HONG KONG: NATIONALITY BILL: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
REGISTRY
Action Taken
pre isty
Sea 226
1. Sir E Youde discussed this in a round-up on the Secretary of State's visit on 13 April. Although the Hong Kong Government are debarred from any further action on nomenclature, the Unofficials are likely to continue to press this point and may lobby MPs in the Committee or Report stages. They are still unconvinced that logically Hong Kong CBDTS should not be described as 'British National: CBDT (Hong Kong)' on the inside of their passports. They realise that there is a distinction between the citisenships which the new Nationality Law will create and the responsibility of IMG towards all its 'nationals' for the purpose of representation with foreign governments. However, they cannot see why the latter point should not be mentioned in a passport which in itself is a request to whom it may concern to assist the bearer.
2.
(196
The Secretary of State told the Unofficials on 31 March that he would take the matter up with the Home Office although he was not optimistic of the outcome (Hong Kong Telegram No 360). Sir E Youde does not think it necessary for the Secretary of State himself to write to Mr Whitelaw but wishes a submission prepared to cover a draft letter from himself to Mr Woodfield in the Home Office conveying the strength of feeling in UMELCO and warning the Home Secretary that the matter is likely to come up again.
3.
In the same submission we should take up the question of the letter which the Home Office wanted the Home Secretary to send to the Governor spelling out the limitations on the amendments now incorporated in Clause 9. The recommendation would be that if the Home Office revert to this we should say that the Foreign Secretary had made the position fully clear in Hong Kong and that the Governor entirely accepted it and that therefore a letter from the Home Secretary was not necessary.
4.
We will draft the submission, and clear with you.
13 April 1981
Wein
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
CC
Mr Donald
Mr Adams
Mr Morrice
CONFIDENTIAL