9P250
271
тор сору
SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 2711032 MAY 81
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 532 OF 27 MAY
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDONI
(7-67
MY TELNO 5221 BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL
HER 340|
RECEIVED IN 354AMRY NO. 51 2 - JUN 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
ло
267
PA
1. I PUT THE SUBSTANCE OF YOUR TELNOS 482 AND 483 TO EXCO AND ALSO TO A MEETING OF ALL UMELCO. THEY HAVE DROPPED THE IDEA OF A MISSION TO LONDON PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE DEBATE ON THE THIRD READING.
REGISTRY
Action Taken
2. WHILE THEY STILL FEEL THE PROPOSED CLAUSE, OR AT LEAST SOMETHING LIKE BRITISH NATIONAL OR BRITISH SUBJECT IN THEIR PASSPORTS, WOULD PROVIDE GREATER INSURANCE FOR THE FUTURE THAN JUST CBDT, THE DIFFICULTIES OF GETTING EITHER, AND THE RELEVANT ARGUMENTS SEEM TO BE MORE APPRECIATED,
3. LABELS SUCH AS BRITISH NATIONAL AND BRITISH SUBJECT HAVE BEEN CURRENT SO LONG THAT IT IS VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT MUCH OF THEIR OLD MEANING HAS BEEN ABANDONED AND THEIR OMMISSION HAS NO GENERALLY ACCEPTED LEGAL EFFECT.
(266)
4. THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARA 9 OF YOUR TELNO 482 HAD CONSIDERABLE
IMPACT.
5. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE REPLIED IN FIRM RATHER THAN CONCILIATORY TONES
ALONG THE LINES OF THE DRAFT IN MIFT.
6. YOU MIGHT WISH TO INSTRUCT ME TO TELL THEM YOU WOULD BE REPLYING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DEBATE ON THE THIRD READING. THIS MIGHT ALLOW INCLUSION OF A REFERENCE TO ANY ASSURANCES GIVEN DURING
IT.
7. WITH REGARD TO PARA 5 OF M.I.F.T. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO LEGISLATE FOR SUCH AN EVENT AND THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE WOULD DEPEND ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME AND H.M.G.'S GENERAL OBLIGATIONS, RATHER THAN ON A FURTHER CLAUSE IN THE BILL OR SOMETHING WRITTEN INTO PASSPORTS.
MACLEHOSE
1692017
See 273
277
275
$282
LIMITED
HKNGD
PS PUS
NTD
MVD
PS
SIR. E. YOUDE MRDONALD
PS/LPS
MRADAMS
PS I MRBLAKER
PSIMRLUCE
SECRET
COPIES
то
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON