CONFIDENTIAL
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WITH REGARD TO YOUR LAST PARAGRAPH, I CANNOT GIVE ASSURANCES
ABOUT SUCH A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION. I BELIEVE IT TO BE TOO
FAR OFF IN TIME, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES TOO DIFFICULT IÙ FORESEE
FOR THIS TO BE POSSIBLE. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE
ADDITION OF 'BRITISH NATIONAL' TO THE PASSPORT OF A CBDT WOULD
NOT IN ANY WAY AFFECT THE EXTENT OF THE HELP THAT HMG WOULD
GIVE. IN VIEW OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS SUBJECT, I STRONGLY
URGE YOU NOT TO SUGGEST, EVEN IN PRIVATE, THAT ANY SUCH CONNEC-
TIONS COULD EXIST. TO DO SO WOULD BE MOST MISLEADING.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE MOST CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION HERE. THE IMPORTANCE WHICH WE ATTACH TO YOUR
POSITION IS SHOWN BY THE REFERENCES WHICH WERE MADE BY MINISTERS
IN THE THIRD READING DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 4 JUNE.
MR WHITELAW SAID:
'I DO, HOWEVER, WANT TO STRESS YET AGAIN THAT THE
BILL IN NO WAY ALTERS THE UNITED KINGDOM'S SPECIAL RELATION-
SHIP WITH HER DEPENDENCIES. OUR MORAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL
TIES WITH THEM, BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY,
AS STRONG AS EVER.'
IN THE SAME DEBATE MR RAISON SAID:
REMAIN
'I TURN NOW TO THE ASSURANCES SOUGHT BY MY HON. FRIEND
THE MEMBER FOR HOWDEN ON HONG KONG. IT IS THE FACT THAT
NOTHING IN THIS BILL CHANGES THE RELATIONSHIP AND COMMITMENT
OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
I GLADLY GIVE THAT ASSURANCE.
NEXT I CONFIRM THAT CITIZENS OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES WILL REMAIN UNITED KINGDOM NATIONALS IN THE
SENSE THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM CAN AFFORD CONSULAR PROTECTION
AND REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS INTERNATIONALLY BOTH OF
WHICH OF COURSE WE INTEND TO CONTINUE TO DO."
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THIS I AM SURE YOU WILL AGREE MAKES HMG'S POSITION QUITE CLEAR
AND CAN LEAVE NO ONE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO THEIR POSITION OR AS TO
HMG'S DETERMINATION TO PROTECT THEOINTERESTS OF CBDTS.
YOU WROTE VERY FRANKLY TO ME, AND I HAVE THOUGHT IT RIGHT
TO REPLY WITH EQUAL FRANKNESS. BY ALL MEANS SHOW THIS LETTER
TO YOUR COLLEAGUES, BUT I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD
PRESERVE ITS CONFIDENTIALITY.
YOURS SINCERELY
PETER CARRINGTON'
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CARRINGTON
DISTRIBUTION
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PS
PS/MR LUCE
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SIR E YOUDE
MR DONALD
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MR ADAMS
CONFIDENTIAL