HOFO 003/10
PP FCO
GR 140
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 100156Z AUG 82
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 863 OF 10 AUGUST
THE FOLLOWING FOR MCQUADE, HKGD
BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT : DESIGNATION IN PASSPORTS
THIS IS TO CONFIRM MY TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH DICK CLIFT ON 6 AUGUST. YOU MAY LIKE TO BE REMINDED THAT JOHN GRIFFITHS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND AUTHOR OF THE LEGAL OPINION WHICH WAS THE BASIS FOR THE NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL XCCI(82)36, IS IN THE UK AND WILL BE COMING INTO THE FOREIGN OFFICE FOR CONSULTATION ON THE PAPER ON THE FUTURE WHICH ALAN DONALD IS MASTERMINDING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LEGAL ADVISERS ARE STUDYING THIS OPINION FOLLOWING MY. DISCUSSION WITH LORD BELSTEAD AND IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF THEY DISCUSS THE OPINION WITH JOHN GRIFFITHS.
2. UNOFFICIALS MADE CLEAR TO ME AGAIN YESTERDAY THEIR STRONG INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT A FORMULA CAN BE AGREED FOR INSERTION IN THE PASSPORT WHICH WILL MAKE CLEAR THAT THEIR NATIONALITY IS UNEQUIVOCALLY BRITISH''. IT WILL CERTAINLY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONVINCE ANY OF THE UNOFFICIALS HERE NOW THAT THERE ARE OVERRIDING OBSTACLES TO THIS COURSE.
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