GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 14103OZ FCO
TELNO 145
OF 14092OZ JANUARY 86
INFO DESKBY 15010OZ PEKING
85
CONFIDENTIAL
90
TOP COPY
ним особи
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 5 JAN 1986
FICER
Action
YOUR TELNO 85: WHITE PAPER ON DRAFT NATIONALITY OPDER.
1. UNOFFICIALS REMINDED ME THIS MORNING AT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
MEETING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS EXPECTING A STATEMENT BY
THE CHIEF SECRETARY TOMORROW IN RESPONSE TO MISS DUNN'S REQUEST
FOR A REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF HMG'S DELIBERATIONS CONTAINED IN
HER STATEMENT OF JANUARY 8 (MY TELNO 080). TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT
IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO TELL THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHAT
POSITION HMG WOULD TAKE IN PARLIAMENT. I ALSO INFORMED THEM IN
STRICT CONFIDENCE OF THE POSITION AS STATED IN PAPAS 1 TO 4 IN YOUP
TEL UNDER REFERENCE. FOR REASONS WHICH WILL BE EVIDENT FROM MY
IFT I DID NOT GIVE THEM THE CONTENT OF PARAGRAPH 5:
2. EXCO UNOFFICIALS COMMENTED THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME AND
HMG TO KNOW THE POSITION OF LEGCO UNOFFICIALS. THEY WOULD NOT LET THE
ISSUE, PARTICULARLY OF THE ENDORSEMENT IN THE PASSPORTS, DIE. THEY
WOULD CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOP THE ENDORSEMENT OF VISA-FPEE ENTRY IF.
NECESSARY BEYOND THE DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER. THEY CONTINUED
TO EMPHASISE THAT THIS WAS IN THE GIFT OF THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT.
3. WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD SEND A DELEGATION TO LONDON WAS AGAIN
AN OPEN QUESTION. THEY WOULD MEET ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY 17
JANUARY TO REVIEW WHAT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLAMENT HAD SAID
IN THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS (EVEN THOUGH THE DEBATE TAKES
PLACE AT 3 A.M. HERE IT WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE BY HONG KONG RADIO).
IN THE LIGHT OF THAT DEBATE THEY WILL DECIDE WHETHER
(A) TO AWAIT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS: OR
(B) TO SEND A DELEGATION TO LONDON EITHER IMMEDIATELY OR AT A LATER
DATE.
4. THEY MADE CLEAR THAT IF THE DELEGATION WENT TO LONDON IT WOULD
SEEK A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. IT WOULD NOT
BE CONTENT WITH LESS.
CONFIDENTIAL
15.