PM/85/84
PRIME MINISTER
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK
040/4
-780115
1417
Hong Kong Nationality Order In Council
1. I confirm that I am content with the draft White Paper
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
میها
(GEOFFREY HOWE)