651
Mr. Christopher Hum Hong Kong Department
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
Hong Kong
Government Office
香港政府駐英辦事處
2 May, 1986
нии
34011
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 6 MAY 1986
DESK OFFICER INDEX
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REGISTRY
Action Taken
Desu Chrisrashen,
British Nationality (Hong Kong) Order 1986
Just a brief line to confirm our conversation, with
a copy of my telegram to Hong Kong last night on the subject.
As requested by Government House, I told
Lord Mishcon that our position had been expressed by the Chief Secretary in LegCo last Wednesday and that his state- ment said in effect we welcomed the Order and hoped that nothing would delay its implementation. A great deal will have to be done after the Order passes both Houses and we would wish to get on with it.
Lord Mishcon said that he took my point but
that the Motion proposed by Lord Cledwyn would not,
in his view, delay matters - it would be "merely a matter of opinion". If it succeeded (which appeared unlikely), the Government could either do something for the non-Chinese ethnic minorities or refuse to concede. In either case, the Order would pass so there would be no delay.
Lord Mishcon asked if Hong Kong thought that the Motion was an accurate statement and I said that the Governor had not thought it proper to comment, nor had he presumed to offer their Lordships guidance. I had, however, given him the official line and he thanked me for it.
My guess is that Lord Cledwyn and he will go ahead with their Motion so as to make their point.
Enc.
Yours sincerely
6 Grafton Street London W1X 3LB
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