15 JAN 93 15:24 B4 LINO 051 255 1160
P.6/12
with the disappearance of British nationality after the third
generation; they think the British nationality on offer is second
rate, that the passports have only travel document status and
that there will be no British consular protection for these
British nationals in Hong Kong. They view the assurances which
Ministers have given in the past as insufficiently firm. They
also say that the ethnic minorities by and large do not have the
characteristics required to succeed under the British Nationality
Scheme.
Line to take
?
7. It is suggested that the general line to take should be (i)
to point to the very full and careful consideration which the
Government has given in the past to this issue at the highest
levels most recently in the context of the British Nationality
Scheme; (ii) to say that the Government's view remains that
there is no case for special treatment and that the position of
the ethnic minorities has been adequately protected, both in the
Joint Declaration and Basic Law and also by the assurances which
the Government has given about action it would take in the event
of an emergency; but (iii) to give further consideration to
points made during the meeting.
8. On the specific criticisms just mentioned in paragraph 6
above the following points might be made:
a)
?
right of abode in Hong Kong this is primarily a matter
for the Foreign Office and Hong Kong Government who have no