SINCE OUR MOTION ON 8 JANUARY, WHICH INCLUDED THE REQUEST TO MAKE FULL BRITISH CITIZENS THE FEW REMAINING BRITISH NATIONALS IN HONG KONG WHO FOUGHT FOR THE DEFENCE OF BRITESH TERRITORY, WE HAVE LEARNED FROM RESEARCH CARRIED OUT BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EX-SERVICEMEN IS NO MORE
THAN 270, AND NOT 400, AS WAS PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED. WE HOPE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACCOUNT OF THIS SMALL NUMBER AND
GRANT THEM FULLB BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.
Â
YOU WILL, IT THINK, HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG IND-PAN ASSOCIATIONS TO THE HOME
SECRETARY DATED 17 FEBRUARY 1986. NEED MAKE NO COMMENT ON THE
LOGICAL AND POWERFUL ARGUMENT THAT THE LETTER CONVEYS, EXCEPT TO
STRESS THAT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FULLY SUPPORT THE
COUNCIL'S CASE AND BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP
SHOULD BE GRANTED TO ALL HONG KONG BDTCS OF NON-CHINESE ORIGIN
WHO HAVE NO OTHER NATIONALITY. WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE
CHINESE MAJORITY IN HONG KONG WILL NOT BEGRUDGE THE MINORITIES
THIS TREATMENT, AND THIS VIEW HAS BEEN ECHOED MANY TIMES IN THE
PAST FEW WEEKS BY PROMINENT ORGANISATIONS AND PRIVATE CITIZENS
THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY. IT HIS THEREFORE QUITE MISLEADING OF
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR WADDINGTON, TO SUGGEST
THAT THERE WILL BE A ''KNOCK-ON EFFECT IF THIS REQUEST NS
GRANTED.
HIT NOW REMAINS FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO FIND A SOLUTION
TO THIS NATIONALITY PROBLEM THAT WILL SATISFY PARLIAMENT
AND PUT THE WORRIES AND UNCERTAINTIES OF SO MANY PEOPLE IN HONG
KONG TO REST. WE RELY VERY MUCH ON YOU TO HELP ENSURE THIS, AND WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE ON OUR BEHALF
FOR A JUST SOLUTION.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AM ENCLOSING A COPY OF MY
ORIGINAL LETTER TO PEERS AND MPS OF 3 JANUARY 1986 AND A COPY OF
MY SPEECH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 8 JANUARY 1986.
WITH VERY BEST WISHES,
LYD NA DUNN
SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER.
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 ADVISERS
MR HUM FID