ZCZC
LNHPAN 8284
OCMIAN 5243
CONFIDENTIAL
TT NEDEL
FM FCOLN TO NEDEL
25113OZ MAR
GRS 234
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO TELELETTER NEW DELHI.
TELELETTER
OF 25113OZ MARCH 86
HAD Ocoten
ник
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 6 MAR 1986
412
DELY OFFICER
RA
REGISTRY
Acnom Takkozema
FROM MT HILL HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FCO
TO R J CODRINGTON NEW DELHI.
(409)
YOUR LETTER 0402E 13 MARCH: HONG KONG INDIANS
1.
WE APPRECIATE THE INCREASING PRESSURE YOU MAY BE UNDER FROM THE LOCAL PRESS. BUT, IN VIEW OF THE CONSIDERABLE SENSITIVITY SURROUNDING THE ORDER IN COUNCIL IN HONG KONG, WE CANNOT AUTHORISE ANY BRIEFING WHILE THE ORDER IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. NO DECISIONS HAVE YET BEEN TAKEN ON THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PROPOSALS, WHICH INCLUDE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR THE ETHNIC MINORITY BDTCS AND WE SHOULD NOT THEREFORE SAY ANYTHING WHICH WOULD PRE-EMPT MINISTERIAL DECISIONS. FOR THE MOMENT THEREFORE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD STICK TO THE PRESS LINE IN MY LETTER OF 4 MARCH. ONCE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN WE WILL SEND YOU A DETAILED NOTE ON WHAT TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO ENQUIRIES. WE HOPE THIS WILL BE SOON.
2.
2.
GRATEFUL TO KNOW HAHAHAH
GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOWEVER IF YOU THINK THE LOCAL PRESS ARE UNDER THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT THE HONG KONG INDIANS IN QUESTION ARE INDIAN CITIZENS. THEY ARE NOT OF COURSE - THE PROVISIONS ON REDUCTION OF STATELESSNESS IN THE DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL APPLY ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE BDTCS AND 2 GENERATIONS OF THEIR DESCENDANTS AND WHO HAVE NO OTHER NATIONALITY. THIS POINT WILL BE MADE CLEAR IN OUR BRIEFING NOTE.
SIGNED M T HILL
OCMIAN 5243
NNNN