1.250
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKEY 2202002 (603)
KUCIC 040/4
(61)
FM HONG KONG 220905Z JAN 25
22 JAN 1995
04014
TO NIMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 179 OF 22 JANUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
По
Ощ
Ty
FOR GOVERNOR C/O HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM HADDON-CAVE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NEW NATIONALITY TITLE.
THE UNOFFICIALS ARE FUSSING SOMEWHAT ABOUT THE NEW TITLE FOR EX-3DTCS. AT LEAST SOME OF THEM ARE OF THE VIEW THAT AN EXPLANATORY STATEMENT SHOULD BE MADE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.
2. AS I SEE IT, SUCH A STATEMENT MIGHT BEGIN WITH THE INSERTION IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH CONVEYED TO US IN FCO TELNO 127 AND THEN CO ON TO MAKE THE FIRST FOUR POINTS 13 OUR TELNO 172, CONCLUDING WITH THE BLAND STATEMENT THAT, IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE. IN OTHER WORDS, A TITLE HAD TO BE CHOSEN WHICH RECONCILED VARIOUS CONTRADICTORY CONSIDERATIONS AND, ABOVE ALL, REFLECT THE FACT THAT THE NEW STATUS IS A FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY, WITHOUT IMPLYING A CONSTITUTIONAL LINK BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UK AFTER 1997.
3. ONE UNOFFICIAL (MISS DUNN) HAS MADE WHAT IS PROBABLY A VALID POINT, NAMELY, THAT SIR S.Y. IS BOUND TO FEEL OBLIGED TO SAY SOMETHING ON THIS SUBJECT ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG TOMORROW MORNING AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS SUCH MIGHT LOOK AS IF IT WAS DRAGGING ITS FEET.IF IT FAILED TO GO PUBLIC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THERE IS ALSO THE POINT THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID IN HIS SPEECH THAT THERE DOES NOW NEED TO BE ADEQUATE TIME TO EXPLAIN THE CHOICE OF THE NEW TITLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG''. AS CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL IN THE COMMONS MAY BE CONCLUDED BY NEXT MONDAY, A STATEMENT IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW WOULD APPEAR TO BE VERY TIMELY.
4. AS I SHALL BE IN THE CHAIR THE AG WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE
STATEMENT AND, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU AGREE THAT SUCH A STATEMENT SHOULD BE MADE, A DRAFT WILL BE SENT TO YOU LATER TODAY.
HADDON-CAVE
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