CONFIDENTIAL
RIZED INT SUISTRY
7 JAN 19897
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1
DD 050100Z HONG KONG
GRS 559
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 050100Z
FM FCO 041710Z JANUARY 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 23 OF 4 JANUARY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
MIPT: HONG KONG BILL: NATIONALITY PROVISIONS
1.
FOLLOWING IS BRIEFING MATERIAL.
BEGINS.
по
R
WHAT NATIONALITY PROVISIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BILL?
1. HONG KONG BILL INCLUDES A PROVISION SEEKING AUTHORITY FOR HMG
TO INTRODUCE AT A LATER DATE AN ORDER OR ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO
CREATE THE NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY REFERRED TO IN THE UK
MEMORANDUM, AND TO TAKE OTHER MEASURES CONSEQUENTIAL UPON OR
CONNECTED WITH THIS. THESE INCLUDE THE TERMINATION OF BDTC
STATUS FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO ON 30 JUNE 1997 POSSESS IT BY VIRTUE
OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG AND MEASURES TO PREVENT PEOPLE
BECOMING STATELESS AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES.
DETAILS OF THE ORDER IN COUNCIL?
2. NO DATE HAS YET BEEN FIXED FOR THE MAKING OF THE ORDER IN
COUNCIL. IT WILL CONTAIN A NUMBER OF DETAILED PROVISIONS THAT
WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.
WHY INCLUDE NATIONALITY PROVISIONS IN THE BILL?
3. HMG BELIEVE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO SET OUT IN THE BILL THE
FRAMEWORK OF THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE
NATIONALITY PROVISIONS IN THE UK MEMORANDUM ASSOCIATED WITH THE
AGREEMENT. ALTHOUGH THE MEMORANDUM IS TECHNICALLY NOT PART OF
THE AGREEMENT, HMG CONSIDER IT TO REPRESENT AN UNDERTAKING THAT
THEY ARE COMMITTED TO CARRYING OUT. WE BELIEVE THAT BOTH
PARLIAMENT AND THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT TO BE TOLD, IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE HONG KONG BILL, HOW THIS WILL BE DONE. SUCH
AN EXPLANATION WOULD HELP TO DISPEL ANY REMAINING UNCERTAINTY
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