GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM F C O 021925Z APR 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG (GOVERNOR)
TELEGRAM NUMBER 342 OF 2 APRIL 1981.
TOP SOP
HKK
34011
RECEIVAS AN RIĢISTRY NO. 51
07 APR 1901
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT-OFF PEEK OND
PERSONAL FOR CS AND S FOR S FROM FORD.
INDEX
ملل
MA
REGISTRY Action Tukan
£15.4
Pao istit
205
FURTHER TO MY TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH CS.
NEW CLAUSE NINE WAS PASSED IN COMMITTEE THIS EVENING WITHOUT OPPOSITION AND ALL THE AMENDMENTS WERE DEFEATED, A REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS HAS BEEN SENT SEPARATELY VIA DIS.
AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM THE REPORT OF THE DEBATE IN COMMITTEE LAST TUESDAY AND THE PRESS REPORTS TODAY, THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE SOME DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD. THE OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SUPPORTED BY TWO OR THREE GOVERNMENT MEMBERS HAVE PUT DOWN A MARKER THAT THEY INTEND TO GO INTO THE WHOLE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP FOR THE BDTS IN SOME DETAIL. I IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO DECIDE WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR EACH OF THE SIXTEEN TERRITORIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE SIX. THERE IS ALREADY CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT IN THE COMMITTEE, PROBABLY A MAJORITY, IN FAVOUR OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENSHIPS. MANY MEMBERS CLEARLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT THE DEPENDENCIES WANT. I UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT WILL TRY TO RESIST SUCH AN AMENDMENT BUT THEY MAY WELL FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT
TO SUSTAIN A MAJORITY IN COMMITTEE.
See 209
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CONCEPT OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENSHIP, HOWEVER PRESENTED, WOULD CREATE DIFFICULTIES FOR HONG KONG. WE SHOULD CERTAINLY BE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT THE NOMENCLATURE ATTACHED TO SUCH CITIZENSHIPS WOULD BRING US CLOSER TO THE CONCEPT OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIPS. INDEED THERE IS A REAL DANGER THAT QUITE THE OPPOSITE WOULD HAPPEN AND THE MOVE COULD WELL BE INTERPRETED AS A FURTHER DISTANCING OF HONG KONG FROM
BRITAIN.
WE HAVE BEEN CONCENTRATING ON ENSURING A FAIR PASSAGE FOR NEW CLAUSE NINE AND HAVE NOT YET TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO MPS HONG KONG'S POINT OF VIEW ON INDIVIDUAL CITIZENSHIPS. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR GUIDANCE ON WHETHER THIS SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED AND, IF SO, THE LINE WE SHOULD TAKE.
Sa
CARRINGTON
MINIMAL HK&GD
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:-
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE LONDON
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