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CONFIDENTIAL
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MEETING BETWEEN LORD BELSTEAD AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG:
28 JULY 1982
Present
PELSTEAD
MAKKK
Lord Belstead
Mr R D Clift
Mr M A Arthur
Sir Edward Youde KCMG MBE
зод
1248
7.
[16
See 34
x 11
Nomenclature in Hong Kong Passports
1.
.......
Takajs! Armald 14-18
Sir E Youde said that when the Hong Kong Executive Council were told the FCO legal view on nomenclature for Hong Kong BDTCs in passports, they asked the Attorney-General to examine the question. He had provided an Opinion which maintained that it would be lawful to describe such persons as 'British' in passports. The matter had aroused considerable feeling in Hong Kong. It was now believed there that there was a legal basis for HMG to take action if, politically, they were prepared to do so. He hope it would be possible to get this question settled before October when the Legislative Council would be considering consequential legislation arising from the Nationality Act.
2.
Lord Belstead undertook to obtain the views of the Legal Advisers as quickly as possible. He would then consider the policy aspects and hoped to discuss the matter with the Governor when he visited London again at the beginning of September.
French demand for visas for Hong Kong passport holders
3.
Sir E Youde raised this question. He noted that the FCO had asked the Embassy in Paris to press the Hong Kong case. Lord Belstead confirmed this and asked to be told if the French rebuffed our approach.
Validity of entry certificates to the UK
4.
Sir E Youde raised this. Lord Belstead confirmed that he had written to Mr Raison but had not yet received a reply.
Air Services
5. Sir E Youde said that his discussions during Mr Sproat's recent visit to Hong Kong had gone very well. He had explained to Mr Sproat the difficulties from Hong Kong's point of view of a confrontation with China, particularly with the prospect of negotiations on major questions. Mr Sproat had explained his interests from the civil aviation point of view but had appeared to accept that no action should be taken until after the Prime Minister's visit.
CONFIDENTIAL
/Overseas