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with FCO Telegram Numbers 482 and 483 which referred to the Ministerial
decision, Mr Blaker's discussion with Mr Raison and provided the
Governor with briefing for his next meeting with UMELCO on the Nationality
Bill.
5. The Governor has now sent a report on the meeting with UMELCO
Hong Kong Telegram Number 532. It is clear from this that he took a
robust line with the Unofficials and that they have now cooled down
considerably. It is however clear that a statement by a Home Office
Minister in Parliament is essential to put the seal on the efforts of
Ministers and the Governor to reassure UMELCO. I say a Home Office
Minister because it would be tactically much wiser to have the statement
made at the end of the debate on the third day. It would therefore
probably have to be made by Mr Raison.
The statement should also repeat
HMG's commitment to Hong Kong along the lines used by Mr Whitelaw when
he introduced the Bill in January.
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6. In paragraph 6 of Hong Kong Telegram Number 532 the Governor suggest-
ed that he be instructed to tell Sir S Y Chung that a reply would be
sent to his letter immediately after the debate on the third reading.
Whilst I agree that this is when a reply should be sent, I would prefer
not to link the timing directly with the third reading, in order to
guard against the possibility that the assurances we want are not given
or are inadequate. This is not I believe likely to happen but it would
be serious if the current goodwill in UMELCO were lost because the
Governor had by implication raised undue hopes about what was to be said
in Parliament.
7. The Governor has also provided a draft reply to Sir S Y Chung's
letter in Hong Kong Telegram Number 533. I have discussed this with
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/Mr Jones.