CONFIDENTIAL
My
well
гла
अनु
327
Mr Gaster they Савин
NOTE OF A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 1986, HOME OFFICE, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
Present:
Mr Waddington
Mr Hyde
Mr Renton, FCO Mr Galsworthy Mr Westmacott
нии
04014
RECEIVED IN KEGISTRY
7/2
1 O MAR 1986
Mr Fries
Mr Lyon
Mr Hudson
HONG KONG NATIONALITY ORDER
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
KGISTRY
Action Taken
1. Mr Renton said that he was broadly content with the package being proposed but wished to raise a number of points of detail. The first was the risk of defeat in the Lords and he suggested that this was a matter which might be discussed with Lord Whitelaw and Lord Denham. Mr Waddington confirmed that Lord Glenarthur had already discussed this with Lord Denham. His view was that it was exceedingly unlikely that the Order would be defeated in the Lords if it had already been approved by the Commons and when concessions were being proposed on two of the three main issues. It was agreed that no further action was required but that the letter to the Prime Minister would have to be amended to reflect Lord Denham's views.
2. There was a brief discussion of timing for laying the Order. It was agreed that the Order should not be laid before the meeting of the Joint Liaison Group from 11 to 14 March. The precise date for laying the Order would have to be decided in consultation with the Business Managers so as to keep to a minimum the gap before a debate, but it was agreed that it should not be before 17 March.
3.
Given that timing, Mr Renton said that he was also concerned that the Governor and perhaps the Executive Council should be consulted about the proposals on passport endorsements. Mr Renton was content with the proposed passport endorsement but strongly preferred the second alternative to the footnote on the draft explanatory leaflet. After discussion it was agreed that Home Office officials would urgently seek the views of the Law Officers. If they and the Home Secretary were content with what, was being proposed,
the Foreign Office would then quickly consult confidentially the Governor of Hong Kong and the Executive Council. Once all these consultations had been completed,
the way would then be clear for the Home Secretary to minute the Prime Minister and members of OD(K). It was agreed that the Annex to the minute to the Prime Minister should be amended as proposed in the attachment to Mr Westmacott's letter of 24 February.
4.
Finally, Mr Renton said that he wanted to discuss two debating points. The first was the argument contained in the briefing for back-benchers which had attracted criticism in Hong Kong, that it was not possible to limit the scope of a concession to grant British citizenship to the ethnic minorities. It was agreed that this was controversial and should not be run too hard. However, it did have some force and should not be ignored.
/cont...