CONFIDENTIAL
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34011
RECEIVED CLARITY NO. 51
1 O SEP1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
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7,89
REZISTRY Action Takan
RECORD OF MEETING BETWEEN MR TIMOTHY RAISON MP, HOME OFFICE MA AND SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE KBE CMG, HONG KONG, HELD AT THE HOME OFFICE ON TUESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1981
Present:
Mr Timothy Raison MP Mr W N Hyde
Miss Sarah Kippax
Sir Philip Haddon-Cave KBE CMG Mr R D Clift
Fee
NATIONALITY BILL
1.
Mr Raison They hoped
Mr Raison and Sir P Haddon-Cave discussed the 'Gibraltar amendment' passed by the Lords in Committee in July. said that the Government regarded it as unfortunate. to reverse the amendment but that could be difficult in parliamentary terms. Sir P Haddon-Cave said that if the amendment were retained this could upset the relative acceptance of the Bill in Hong Kong. He asked whether it would be possible to describe all British Citizens, CBDTS, BOCs, etc as 'British National's. Mr Raison said that the term 'National' was too vague in legislation whereas 'CBDT' was precise. There was no question that the responsibility for representing and protecting travellers from Hong Kong and other Dependent Territories remained with the British Government. He stressed that HMG had met Hong Kong's requests on a number of points. If it were not possible to reverse the Gibraltar amendment he hoped that the realities of the situation could be explained to Hong Kong.
2.
Sir P Haddon-Cave expressed understanding of HMG's position but emphasised that if Gibraltarians were seen to be getting better treatment tha n their CBDT counterparts in other Dependent Territories, people in Hong Kong and particularly the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils would revive their requests for a clearer statement of their British status, whether through use of the term 'British National' or in other ways.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
3. Sir P Haddon-Cave said that it was disturbing that the net outflow of refugees from Hong Kong this year had been only 4,000. The offtake must continue and in order that the most important country of resettlement, the United States, could be encouraged to continue their efforts, the British Government must not be seen to be ending their efforts.
4.
Mr Raison said that he saw no prospect of another quota. There were political and social difficulties including unemployment and housing. He emphasised, however, that there was no question of a total withdrawal of the British effort. Refugees would continue to be taken by family reunion and from boat rescues.
CONFIDENTIAL
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