RESTRICTED
HKK 040/2
05
DD 160030Z HONG KONG
GRS 250
RESTRICTED
DESKBY 160030Z
FM FCO 151629Z JANUARY 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 96 OF 15 JANUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HONG KONG BILL : AMENDMENT TABLED BY MR ENOCH POWELL MP
1. MR POWELL TODAY TABLED THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE HONG
KONG BILL:-
'ON SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG BILL TO MOVE, THAT THIS HOUSE
DECLINES TO GIVE A SECOND READING TO A BILL WHICH PROVIDES FOR
THE LAW OF CITIZENSHIP TO BE ALTERED BY ORDER AND THUS PRECLUDES
THAT DETAILED CONSIDERATION AND AMENDMENT OF SUCH ALTERATIONS BY
.THE HOUSE, WHICH ENACTMENT BY BILL WOULD AFFORD'.
2.
THIS HAS AROUSED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PRESS INTEREST,
AND WE ARE BEING ASKED WHY WE ARE PROCEEDING BY ORDER IN COUNCIL.
WE ARE CONSIDERING TAKING THE LINE IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF FCO TELNO
23, ADDING THE POINT THAT HMG CONSIDER IT IMPORTANT TO SET OUT
IN THE BILL THE FRAMEWORK OF ALL THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO
IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE NATIONALITY PROVISIONS IN
THE UK MEMORANDUM. HAVING TWO HONG KONG BILLS, WHICH WOULD
OTHERWISE BE NECESSARY, WOULD BE WASTEFUL OF PARLIAMENTARY TIME.
THE AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE DOES ALLOW PARLIAMENT THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR FULL DEBATE OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE
ORDER-IN-COUNCIL.
3. WE ARE NOT YET CLEAR, HOWEVER, WHETHER IT WOULD BE A BREACH
OF PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE TO COMMENT AT ALL ON MR POWELL'S
AMENDMENT. WE ARE THEREFORE NOT MAKING ANY COMMENT UNTIL THIS
POINT HAS BEEN CLARIFIED, PROBABLY ON 16 JANUARY.
HOWE
NNNN
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
RESTRICTED
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST MR.EMERY - BE HOME OFFICE
CROYDON.
MR. HYDE
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