PM/85/84
PRIME MINISTER
HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
PS
423
r. Hill
ник ото/х
PS/Lcdy yang
PS/Fr Renton PS/PUS
Sir witlarding Dr Wilso
NTD
MVD
FED
8810
вы
Hong Kong Nationality Order In Council
1. I confirm that I am content with the draft White Paper (422
containing the Hong Kong Nationality Order in Council circulated under cover of the Home Secretary's minute of 30 September. The
White Paper and Order were drawn up in consultation with FCO and
Hong Kong Government officials, and have been approved by the
Hong Kong Executive Council.
2. Although the issues involved were aired thoroughly during
the debate on the Hong Kong Bill we should not underestimate
the political sensitivity of nationality questions in Hong Kong
and we should allow ample time to debate these. We can expect
continued criticism both for our refusal to grant right of abode
in the UK to BDTCS, and for our failure to obtain Chinese
agreement to a transmissible form of nationality for BDTCs. Given however that EXCO has agreed to this Order I think that
opposition will be of manageable proportions.
3.
We will also need to be careful to bear Chinese
sensitivities in mind during the passage of the Order. The
negotiation of the Exchange of Memoranda on nationality
associated with the Joint Declaration was extremely difficult.
The Chinese will be watching carefully to see that we
implement it to the letter.
4. I am copying this minute to colleagues in OD(K), to
John Wakeham, Bertie Denham and to Sir Robert Armstrong.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
1 October 1985
CONFIDENTIAL
ميها
(GEOFFREY HOWE)