101
HKK 049/53
RECEIVED IN REGISTKY
2 O DEC 1984
(163
INARX
w
CONFIDENTIAL
57 - 1
DD PEKING 182300Z
GRS 1050
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 182300Z
FROM FCO 181140Z DEC 84
TO IMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1591 OF 18 DECEMBER 1984
INFO IMEDIATE HONG KONG
FOLLOWING FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATES PARTY
k159
HONG KONG TELNO 3818: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: DRAFT BILL:
SUPPLEMENTARY BRIEFING FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATES DISCUSSIONS
WITH EXCO
TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY (PARA ONE OF TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE)
1. THIS POINT IS COVERED IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S BRIEFING. EARLIER DISCUSSION IN EXCO, AND OUR RESPONSE TO THE POINTS RAISED BY EXCO MEMBERS, ARE RECORDED IN HONG KONG TELNO 3350 AND FCO (~64) TELNO 2269 TO HONG KONG, BOTH REPEATED TO PEKING. NATIONALITY (PARAS 2 AND 3 OF TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE).
BACKGROUND
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL RECALL THE ARGUEMENTS IN FAVOUR OF
THE INCLUSION OF NATIONALITY PROVISIONS IN THE HONG KONG BILL PUT FORWARD, AFTER CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE HOME SECRETARY, IN HIS PAPER FOR MINISTERS. IT IS OF COURSE THE CASE THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO INCLUDE THESE PROVISIONS AS A PRELIMINARY FOR RATIFICATION. HOWEVER THE SECRETARY OF STATE ACCEPTED THE HOME SECRETARY'S VIEW THAT THE ALTERNATIVE OF A SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT ACT TO AMEND THE BNA WAS UNDESIRABLE, AS THIS COULD GIVE RISE TO PARLIAMENTARY PRESSURE FOR WIDER AMENDMENTS UNCONNECTED WITH HONG
KONG. IT WAS ALSO RELEVANT THAT BECUASE OF THE TEN YEAR PERIOD OF VALIDITY OF PASSPORTS, LEGISLATION MIGHT WELL BE NECESSARY BEFORE 1987, TO ALLOW PASSPORTS THAT WOULD EXTEND BEYOND 1997 TO
1
CONFIDENTIAL
BE.