4. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ACCEPTED THIS MORNING THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO BRING THE VIEW TAKEN BY MINISTERS BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW AFTERNOON. BUT #F THE REPLY IS TO BE
NEGATIVE THEY WILL NEED TO INDICATE THIS TO THEIR COLLEAGUES IN LEGCO WELL BEFORE THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE SINCE THIS MAY LEAD TO
WISHING TO AMEND THEIR DECISION NOT TO LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN LONDON.
5. AS REGARDS THE SECOND POINT IN YOUR TELNO 27 AGAIN THINGS HAVE MOVED ON AS A RESULT OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS ON THE DPAFT ORDER. THE POSITION NOW IS THAT LEGCO AND EXCO UNOFFICIALS HAVE UNANIMOU- SLY TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THE COURSE OF ACTION THEY HAVE PROPOSED
WOULD NOT BE DIVISIVE. THEY HAVE TAKEN THEIR OWN SOUNDINGS AND
WE COULD SCARCELY THEREFORE MAINTAIN THE VIEW THAT IT WOULD BE.
6. WE ALSO FIND THE ASSERTIONS IN PARA 3 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REFERENCE DEBATABLE. TO THE LAYMAN, AT LEAST, THE CHINESE NATIONALITY LAW IS UNDOUBTEDLY BASED ON ETHNIC PRINCIPLES AND IT IS AS MUCH FROM
THIS AS FROM THE OTHER DIFFICULTIES THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE
MINORITIES HERE ARISES.
7. I THINK THAT EXCO MEMBERS WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE IDEA THAT
OFFICIALS SHOULD EXPRESS OTHER THAN UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR THE
XOTION. TO MEET YOUR CONCEPNS HOWEVER THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S SPEECH
WILL REFER TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WILL REQUIRE FOR THE
DISCUSSION. (SEE MY TELNO 55)
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/NTD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
DEP HD/PUSD
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
w
COPIES TO :
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD
MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE
MR EMERY, BL DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON
MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE,
ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.
MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL
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