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to leave Hong Kong.
We do recognise that uncertainty about the exact status of
this community in the future is a worry for the non ethnic
7.
Chinese. But we believe that the ethnic minority is
its
overstating their case. The Home Office did look again at the issue, following the November debate; they remained
unconvinced of the case for introduction of new primary
legislation to give citizenship to this group (FCO telno 217
to Hong Kong). HKG confirmed this during the March debate.
8. We have gone as far as we can without new primary
legislation to give comfort to this group. The Secretary of State explained to Emily Lau when she called on him on 28 January (FCO telno 76 to Hong Kong) that it would be unwise to reopen in Parliament the debate which had resulted in the British Nationality Scheme. The message apparently struck
home there was no formal call during the LegCo debate for
amendement to the British Nationality Scheme to introduce a
"quota" for the ethnic minority. A letter from Mr Goodlad would help make equally clear the message that the Home Office
has no intention of introducing new legislation to grant full British citizenship to this category.
9.
We have considered the option of leaving any response until the Legco delegation comes to London. I am in favour of
taking an early opportunity to spell out HMG's position again
in a form which leaves Legco no room for doubt. Once Mr
Goodlad's visit to Hong Kong at the end of May becomes public,
it is quite likely that the sub-committee will shelve plans to
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