RESTRICTED
YOU ALSO ASKED FOR ASSURANCE THAT THE NATIONAL STATUS OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S
UNDERTAKINGS TOWARDS THEM WOULD CONTINUE WHETHER A PARTICULAR
DEPENDENT TERRITORY REMAINED IN SCHEDULE OF THE BILL OR NOT. I
CANNOT, OF COURSE, MAKE ANY DEFINITE FORECAST ABOUT A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION, PARTICULARLY ONE WHICH, AS YOU YOURSELF POINTED OUT IN THE DEBATE, IS VERY REMOTE. IT IS IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, TO POINT OUT THAT A DEPENDENT TERRITORY MAY ONLY BE REMOVED FROM SCHEDULE BY A
DECISION OF PARLIAMENT.
IF THERE WERE TO BE A CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF A DEPENDENCY, THE QUESTION OF THE NATIONAL STATUS IN OUR LAW OF PEOPLE FROM THAT DEPENDENCY WOULD THEREFORE BE FOR PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE, TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT WOULD, I BELIEVE, BE WRONG TO TRY TO
BE MORE PRECISE ON HOW BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS FROM HONG KONG MIGHT BE AFFECTED, PARTICULARLY, AS NO CLEAR ANALOGY CAN BE DRAWN BETWEEN THAT TERRITORY AND OTHERS WHICH IN THE PAST
HAVE CEASED TO BE DEPENDENCIES. WHAT I BELIEVE MATTERS MOST FROM
HONG KONG'S POINT OF VIEW IS THAT THE STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY
RESTS ON THE TWIN BASES OF OUR EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND OF BRITAIN'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG'S PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT ALTERED BY THE NATIONALITY BILL.
ENDS.
CARRINGTON
LIMITED
HK & GD
NTD
S AM D
SED
PS
PS/LPS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD TREFGARNE PS/PUS
MR ADAMS
MR DONALD
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
2
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