GR 300
CONFIDENTIAL
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(99)
CONFIDENTAL
DESKBY 31113OZ (FCO)
FM HONG KONG 31104OZ JAN 85
TELEGRAM NUMBER 259 OF 31 JANUARY
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
LUKK 040/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
HONG KONG BILL: TITLE OF NEW FORM OF NATTONALITY
по
4FEB 1985
Чт
Pa
AT THE INITIATIVE OF UMELCO THERE WILL BE AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY ON THE PROPOSED TITLE OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS). WE EXPECT THAT, IN LINE WITH THE PUBLIC STATEMENT ISSUED BY UMELCO LAST WEEK (PARA 2 OF MY TELNO 221) AND WITH EXCO'S ADVICE (MY TELNO 232), UNOFFICIALS WILL BE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW TITLE. HOWEVER, THEY WILL MOST PROBABLY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE VARIOUS POINTS ABOUT WHICH THE PUBLIC HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OR ON WHICH THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY, WITH A VIEW TO SEEKING AUTHORITATIVE ANSWERS.
101
2. MOST OF THESE POINTS ARE LIKELY TO CENTRE AROUND THE ACCEPTABILITY OF FUTURE BNO PASSPORTS IN THIRD COUNTRIES. IN PARTICULAR, IT
IS EXPECTED THAT EMPHASIS WILL BE LAID ON THE NEED FOR BNO PASSPORTS
譬
TO STATE CLEARLY THEIR HOLDERS RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG: (ON
THIS PLEASE SEE MY TELNO 257). IN ADDITION, ISSUES SUCH AS THE RIGHTS OF BNO'S, STATELESSNESS, ETC. MIGHT ALSO BE RAISED. (WE
SHALL HAVE A CLEARER IDEA OF WHAT UNOFFICIALS WILL BE SAYING WHEN WE RECEIVE THEIR DRAFT SPEECHES EARLY NEXT WEEK.)
3. TODAY'S SCM POST ALSO CARRIED A REPORT FROM DAVID HEALY IN LONDON THAT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE HONG KONG BILL WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS NEXT WEDNESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY. IF THIS REPORT IS CORRECT (AND I SHOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIRMATION OR OTHERWISE) SOME OF THE POINTS RAISED IN THE LEGCO DEBATE MIGHT ALSO BE RAISED IN PARLIAMENT.
4. IT WILL BE HIGHLY DESIRABLE FOR ANY REMAINING UNCERTAINTIES
TO BE AUTHORITATIVELY ANSWERED IN LEGCO AND/OR PARLIAMENT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. TO THIS END WE HAVE SET OUT IN MIFT A DRAFT QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF WHICH COULD BE DRAWN ON BOTH HERE AND IN LONDON. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AND PEKING'S COMMENTS DESKBY 05003OZ.
YOUDE
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 HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
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 DR C CHRISTOPHER, CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST
CONFIDENTIAL