how received
માળી
CONFIDENTIAL
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4.
Secretary for Security then turned to the matter of
the U.K. quota. It would be helpful to Hong Kong's efforts to persuade other countries to be more sympathetic
towards Hong Kong's resettlement problems if the U.K.
could accept even a few more VRs. Lord Belstead said that
this was a matter for the Home Office. He would, however,
take it up on his return to London but warned that it
would be difficult to achieve much because of the U.K.
political situation.
5.
On the closed centre legislation, which F.C.O. considered might be in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Secretary for
Security said that he and the Law Draftsman had discussed
with Mr Donald. He would now send a reply to the F.C.O.'s letter. Mr Donald said that he considered that the political factors should tip the scale in Hong Kong's favour.
British Nationality Act
6.
Secretary for Security said that there was concern from a security point of view about the vulnerable position of certain Crown servants, particularly the Police (especially the Special Branch) and the Administrative
Service, under the provisions of Section 4 (5) of the Act, in the event of a change of Government in Hong Kong. He
was aware that registration under this section would be exercised "only sparingly" but hoped that HMG would not reject permanently applications for registration but would leave the door open to reexamine applications should circumstances in Hong Kong change. No decisions were required now but it was important that HMG should be aware of the concern of HKG in respect of certain categories of Crown servants should circumstances change. But HMG and HKG would need to agree a form of words to reassure those whose applications are refused at the present time and to reassure informally civil servants generally. Lord Belstead said that this point had been
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CONFIDENTIAL