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4. 1 APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTIES IN WHICH SUCH A DECISION WOULD
PLACE MINISTERS, BUT I MUST ADVISE VERY STRONGLY AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO FORCE AN UNPALATABLE TITLE ON UNOFFICIALS. THERE IS A
REAL RISK THAT IF THE TITLE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THEM UMELCO WILL LOBBY PUBLICLY BOTH HERE AND IN THE UK AGAINST IT, WHICH COULD
SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLICATE THE DEBATE ON THE HONG KONG BILL.
5. IF THE QUESTION ARISES IN PARLIAMENT OF THE MEANING OF THE TERM ''APPROPRIATE STATUS'' I SUGGEST MINISTERS COULD THEN TAKE
•
THE LINE THAT IT WILL BE A FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY: THAT IT WOULD
BE IDENTICAL TO BDTC EXCEPT IN NAME AND EXCEPT FOR TRANSMISSIBILITY:
BUT THAT THE TITLE WILL REQUIRE A WIDER DEGREE OF CONSULTATION IN
HONG KONG THAN CAN BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE DEBATE ON THE BILL.
6. IF THERE IS NOT A CLEAR CONCENSUS IN EXCO THE QUESTION WILL ARISE OF WHETHER I SHOULD EXTEND THE CONSULTATION ON THE TITLE TO THE WIDER FORUM OF UMELCO. SUCH CONSULTATION COULD BE OF VALUE IN ANY CASE SINCE WE MUST NOT FIX ON A TITLE WHICH WILL NOT ACHIEVE
GENERAL ACCEPTANCE HERE.
7. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AGREEMENT DESKBY 05010OZ THAT:
(A) I SHOULD PROCEED AS IN PARA 2 ABOVE: AND
(3) IN THE LIKELY EVENT OF EXCO BEING UNWILLING TO COME TO A CONCLUSION, I SHOULD AGREE THAT THE ISSUE WILL NEED FURTHER
CONSIDERATION.
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 HARD ING
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 COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST
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