CONFIDENTIAL
7.
The consequence is that whenever the Home Office detect an immigration implication in points arising from the nationality legislation they are usually able to rally more ministerial weight than the FCO can muster in support of particular interests - in this case Hong Kong. I am not sure that Hong Kong have ever fully understood that in winning the FCO around to their point of view on nationality matters they are less than half way home,
8. Our series of ministerial exchanges with the Home Secretary in 1981 was not notably successful (Lord Carrington 10 March and 4 May, Mr Whitelaw 11 May, Mr Atkins 9 October, Mr Whitelaw's Private Secretary 13 October, and Mr Atkins 16 October, all 1981). We shall need to think carefully about any course of action that might lead our new Ministers into similar exchanges.
12 August 1982
CC:
Mr Partridge, MVD
Christopher Howells
C J Howells
Nationality & Treaty Dept
CONFIDENTIAL