CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 09083OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 217
OF 08184OZ MAR 93
29
CONFIDENTIAL
INJ
HKD 34076
09 MAR 1993
u
P
9/3
DBJ
Ms B.J.
YOUR TELNO 3437 LEGCO DEBATE ON ETHNIC MINORITIES
1.
31
042564
MDHOAN 9871
Since Here was no
time to Confully Mr Godled, we still report to him
In the outcome of the debake
We understand the strength of feeling on this issue in LegCo. But we and the Home Office consider that you should avoid raising
This issue was expectations of any change in HMG'S position.
fully debated in the House in 1990 during the passage of the Hong Kong nationality Legislation.
2. There is very little that is new in the sub-committee's report. It contains familiar arguments. We consider that the Secretary for Security should repeat the same responses which have been made before (we endorse the points made for instance when HKG briefed the LegCo sub-committee on 29 December).
3. We have very
little room for manoeuvre. Since we cannot grant citizenship under the 1981 Act, the only options are the selection scheme or some new piece of primary legislation aimed specifically at the ethnic minorities. In the Home Office's view the case for tailor-made legislation is very thin. You will also have seen the firm Line taken by Ministers here with Emily Lau on the question of reopening the nationality issue in Parliament.
4. We suggest that the Secretary for Security should say in response to the LegCo motion that this issue has been considered afresh here by Home Office Ministers following the 18 November debate and the recent visits by LegCo members. HMG are not persuaded of the case for fresh legislation to give British citizenship to the ethnic minorities semi colon this community's position in Hong Kong is secure semi colon neither they nor their children or grandchildren will be stateless semi colon they are eligible for the British Nationality Scheme (and some have been successful) semi colon and the British government stands by its undertaking to consider their case for admission to UK with particular sympathy if, contrary to expectations, they were come under severe pressure to leave Hong Kong.
5. In referring to the sub-committee's report we suggest that
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