designation of 'British national' would be taken as a
sign that we were not acting in the spirit of that
commitment, particularly since the reasons for refusing
the proposal last autumn were presented to the Executive
Council as legal ones. The Prime Minister would come
under heavy attack. We at the FCO therefore, consider that
HMG should accept the Hong Kong view.
4.
We shall need to agree a line with you on this soon
as Sir Edward Youde, accompanied by five council members
from Hong Kong, will be calling on the Prime Minister
in London on Wednesday 8 September. They can be
expected to raise the nationality question vigorously.
A further consideration in view of the Prime Minister's
visit to Peking is that the Chinese government may draw
far-reaching conclusions from our public policy on
nationality as it affects Hong Kong.
5.
As we shall have to brief No 10 and our own Ministers
in advance of Sir E Youde's arrival we should be grateful
to have Home Office views on these proposals as soon as
possible.
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