GRS 450
SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 2609OOZ FCO
TELNO 2003
OF 23O2OOZ MAY 87
NFO PRIORITY PEKING
TOP COPY Q DIST.?
нивот
03 JUN 1987
PERSONAL FOR HUM, HKD FROM POLITICAL ADVISER
1. AT THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON 29 MAY HE MAY BE ASKED
ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING LORD MACLEHOSE'S VISIT TO PEKING
IN 1979 ON THE LINES THAT:
(A) DENG XIAOPING TOLD HIM THAT CHINA WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE OVER
HONG KONG IN 1997, AND
(B) THAT HE KEPT THIS FROM THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG BUT TOLD
HMG WHO THEREFORE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE BRITISH NATIONALITY
ACT 1981.
2. DRAWING ON KEN WALKER'S MINUTE OF 2 FEBRUARY TO YOU WE HAVE
PREPARED A BRIEF WITH A LINE TO TAKE AS FOLLOWS:
SUGGESTED LINES TO TAKE
(A) **: ACCOMPANIED LORD MACLEHOSE ON HIS VISIT TO PEKING IN MARCH 1979. CAN STATE CATEGORICALLY THAT THE ESSENCE OF WHAT
THE CHINESE LEADERS SAND TO HIM ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE WAS SUMMED
UP IN DENG XIAOPING'S GENERAL STATEMENT THAT INVESTORS SHOULD PUT
THEIR HEARTS AT EASE. IT IS QUITE WRONG TO SUGGEST THAT LORD MACLEHOSE WAS TOLD THAT CHINA WOULD TAKE OVER HONG KONG IN 1997
AND THAT HE SOMEHOW KEPT THIS FROM THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.''
(B) **THE ORIGINS OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981 WENT BACK WELL BEFORE 1979. IN FACT IT WAS THE THEN LABOUR ADMINISTRATION IN 1974 WHICH BEGAN TO EXAMINE THE UP DATING OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1948. A GREEN PAPER ON THE SUBJECT WAS ISSUED IN APRIL 1977 WHICH ALREADY CONTAINED THE NOTION OF SEPARATE CITIZENSHIP FOR PERSONS WITH THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK AND THOSE
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