(A) THE ENDORSEMENT IN THE PASSPORT
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT UNAMBIGUOUSLY WELCOMES BONA FIDE VISITORS FROM HONG KONG. HMG ALSO FULLY APPRECIATES THE SIGNIFICANCE FOR HONG KONG BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS OF HAVING AN APPROPRIATE ENDORSEMENT REGARDING THE ENTRY OF VISITORS TO THE UK IN THE PASSPORT. THEY ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THE IDEA OF AN ENDORSEMENT PROVIDED IT WERE COMBINED WITH MEASURES TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE STATUS OF THE
VISITORS.
(B) BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR EX-SERVICEMEN AND THE MINORITIES
HMG RECOGNISE THERE MAY BE DESERVING CASES. BUT AT THE PRESENT. TIME THEY LACK SUFFICIENT DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THOSE INVOLVED TO BE ABLE TO COME TO A FIRM CONCLUSION ON WHETHER OR NOT ANY MODIFICATION OF THE PRESENT
ARRANGEMENTS IS CALLED FOR.
(C) THEY PROPOSE TO INVITE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO SEND A TEAM TO LONDON TO CONSIDER THESE THREE POSSIBILITIES IN
GREATER DETAIL.
(D) THEY WILL THEN BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE MATTERS FURTHER IN THE LIGHT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE AND THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
THEN AVAILABLE.
13. TO AVOID RAISING UNDUE HOPES, HT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE PRUDENT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED, AND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT NO COMMITMENTS ON (B) WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN ADVANCE. BUT T
WOULD AVOID A BLANKET AND PREMATURE REJECTION OF THE CASE.
14. THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE ADVICE OF EXCO. IF MINISTERS ARE READY TO CONSIDER THEM, WOULD BE VERY
READY TO PUT THESE IDEAS TO EXCO FOR THEIR ADVICE ON JANUARY 14.
15. WE WILL RESERVE OUR COMMENTS ON NOTES FOR THE CONCLUDING SPEECH
UNTIL WE HAVE YOUR REACTION TO OUR PRESENT PROPOSALS.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/NTD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
DEP HD/PUSD
PS
PS/R RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING MR WILSON
· COPIES TO:
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD
MR HYDE. HOME OFFICE
MR EMERY, B4 DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON
MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE,
ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.
MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE
-3- MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL