GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
Confidential
TO DESKBY 17140OZ FCO
TELNO 193
OF 17115OZ JANUARY 96
INFO DESKBY 18010OZ PEKING
COP CORY
AKK 066/4
REL WED.
IND
20 JANI906
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM GOVERNOR.
MY M.P.T.
WHITE PAPER ON NATIONALITY ORDER. HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE.
SIR S.Y. CHUNG TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER IMPORTANT
POLITICAL POINT MADE STRONGLY IN THE DISCUSSION AMONG UNOFFICIALS
TODAY TO WHICH NO PUPLICITY WAS BEING GIVEN. THIS WAS TO THE EFFECT
THAT IF HMG APPEARED SO DEAF TO SUCH A UNANIMOUSLY EXPRESSED VIEW,
AND ON A MATTER EASILY WITHIN HMG'S GIFT (.E. THE ENDORSEMENT)
THE CHINESE WOULD CONCLUDE THAT IF HMC ATTACHED SO LITTLE WEIGHT
TO THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THERE WOULD BE NO PEASON FOR
THEM (THE CHINESE) TO DO SO. THIS WOULD REINFORCE THEM IN THE IP
VIEW THAT THEY COULD IGNORE LEGCO, BOTH AS A BODY NOW, AND AS AN
INSTITUTION IN THE FUTURE. THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO
SECURE CHINESE RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR IT, AND LEAD IN TUPN TO
THE RAPID EROSION OF A BRITISH AUTHORITY AND TO INCREASED
DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING CHINESE ACCEPTANCE OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
PRESENT SYSTEM.
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
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 MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISÉRS
Confidential
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