GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 29103OZ JAN 85
TO IMMEDIATE F C 0
TELEGRAM NUMBER 234 OF 29 JANUARY INFO IMMEDIATE PEKiwą.
MIPT.
86
(83)
HCK 64214
RECEIVED WIRI
30 JAN 1985
A
الم است
MY TELNO 223 AND YOUR TELNO 167: HONG KONG BILL/NATIONALITY TITLE :
HONG KONG REACTIONS.
No &
IMM
YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED DAILY REPORTS OF PRESS REACTION TO THE BILL AND THE NATIONALITY TITLE IN MY TEL NOS 186, 191 210 AND 221.
179)
(84)
185
2. IN COMING TO THEIR CONCLUSION TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 2(1)(B) OF THE SCHEDULE, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TOOK NOTE THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO SUSTAINED SUGGESTION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE TITLE. THEY ALSO NOTED THAT DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE REPORTED THAT THE TITLE WAS NOT THE MAIN SUBJECT OF CONCERN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE NEW TITLE HAS NOT BEEN GREETED WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM, BUT NO BETTER TITLE HAD BEEN
SUGGESTED.
3. THE MAIN CONCERN OF THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN TO EMPHASISE THE IMPORT- ANCE THE PASSPORT PROVING ACCEPTABLE TO THIRD COUNTRIES AND IN CONSEQUENCE OF STEPS BEING TAKEN BY HMG TO EXPLAIN THE NEW STATUS TO
THOSE COUNTRIES AND TO SEEK THE PRESERVATION OF THE EXISTING ENTRY
ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ALREADY APPLY TO HOLDERS OF BDTC PASSPORTS.
GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SAY IN DUE COURSE WHAT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE
MADE. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL BE MOST
INTERESTED IN THESE PLANS.
4. I DO NOT EXPECT THAT ANY DIFFERENT TITLE WHICH MEETS THE REQUIRED CRITERIA IS NOW LIKELY TO SURFACE AND GAIN WIDER SUPPORT IN HONG KONG. I ACCORDINGLY ENDORSE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S ADVICE THAT THE AMENDMENT CAN BE INTRODUCED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
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 DRC CHRISTOPHER, CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST
B4 HOME OFFICE
MR. EMERY
CROYDON.
MR. HYDE
-
HOME OFFICE.
QUEEN ANNES GATE.
CONFIDENTIAL