CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 091030Z OCT 81
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 913 OF 9 OCTOBER
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
398
MIPT
DEAR SIR MURRAY,
BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL 1981
399
Y NO. 51
HK/T 340/1
Hにに
12 OCT 1981
DESK OFFIC
1erion Taken
No
2660
Проча
D
See
4
WE NOTE THAT THE HOUSE OF LORDS HAS AMENDED THE BILL AND HAS INCLUDED PROVISION FOR GIBRALTARIAN CBDTS TO ACQUIRE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UPON APPLICATION. IT IS NOT CLEAR AT THIS STAGE WHETHER
HMG WILL SEEK TO REJECT THE AMENDMENT WHICH REPRESENTS A MAJOR CONCESSION TO A PARTICULAR CATEGORY OF CBDT. SIR PAUL BRYAN, WHO BRIEFED UMELCO ON THE POSITION ON 7 OCTOBER, IS OF THE VIEW THAT IT WILL BE ACCEPTED IN WHICH CASE IT MIGHT BE TIMELY TO APPROACH HMG AFRESH IN OUR OWN CASE.
AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR MAIN CONCERNS FROM THE BEGINNING HAS BEEN THAT THE BRITISH CONNECTION AND STATUS OF CUKCS IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, WHO HAVE NO RIGHT OF ENTRY TO AND ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED IN ANY WAY AND WE CAN SCARCELY OBJECT TO THE REGISTRATION CONCESSION TO GIBRALTAR.
NATURALLY, WE BELIEVE THAT ANY PRIVILEGES ALLOWED TO ONE CATEGORY OF CBDT SHOULD IN PRINCIPLE APPLY TO ALL. HOWEVER, WE ARE PRAGMATIC PEOPLE AND REALISE THAT HMG CANNOT ACCEPT THE EXTENSION
OF THE SAME REGISTRATION PRIVILEGE TO HONG KONG. OUR PRIMARY CONCERN REMAINS THAT IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO ALL THAT CBDTS RETAIN THEIR BRITISH NATIONALITY.
TO PRESERVE OUR BRITISH CONNECTION AND STATUS WE MAINTAIN THAT THE BRITISH NATIONALITY OF CBDTS SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED IN THE BILL. THE WORDS INSCRIBED IN THE PASSPORTS OF CBDTS SHOULD ALSO PLACE IT BEYOND DOUBT THAT CBDTS REMAIN BRITISH NATIONALS. WE ASK FOR NOTHING MORE THAN TO PROVIDE UNDER THE LAW THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY HMG IN THE COURSE OF THE THIRD READING DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS. IT IS HOPED THAT THE DEPTH OF OUR CONCERN ON THIS POINT WILL BE APPRECIATED AND OUR APPEAL TREATED WITH SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.
SIR PAUL ADVISED THAT PARLIAMENT WILL RESUME ON 19 OCTOBER AND THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE TIME LEFT TO US. WE THEREFORE HOPE THAT YOUR EXCELLENCY WILL URGENTLY CONVEY OUR APPEAL ON THIS POINT MOST STRONGLY TO THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND WILL ADVISE US OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS IN THIS RESPECT.IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT ALL THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE MOST ANXIOUS AND WILLING TO HELP IN WHATEVER WAY YOUR EXCELLENCY WOULD ADVISE.
YOURS SINCERELY,
(S Y CHUNG)
SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE
HONG KONG. EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HK&GD
NTD PS
PS/LFS
PS/LORD TREFGARNE
PS/PUS
MR DONALD. MR ADAMS
COPIES TO:
-
HK.GO LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL