MKD 340/8
RECE
INDER
16 NOV 1993
2
Mr Morris Мы
MoRicketts, fiin
dh
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Hagree wire thrs BJ's para
6
that it's worth considning a
Woodrow carefully
& pa Rependents
Reference
.15./11 pl.spk.
Morn's Ms B-J.
31
I've always thought Hal Ministers wot want to have something new to
A commitment to consider
wired for approach - but in light Jany in the course of a olhar
commons pressure is likely to be more efecting
them in anticipation d Rock boute. JM 12/11 krishtine, might
se enough.
HONG KONG NATIONALITY: CALL ON HOME SECRETARY BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
1.
I told you about my conversation with Mr Kelly (Home Office B4 Division). He had told me that the Home Secretary, against the advice of his officials, had been inclined to introduce special legislation to enable the group of war widows to acquire British Citizenship. Mr Kelly learnt that, in the event, the Home Secretary had been ridden off this approach and had made no such proposal when he spoke with the
Mr Kelly's information was that the meeting between the Home Secretary and the Governor had been congenial, and that the Governor had not pressed particularly hard on any of the issues raised (ethnic minorities, extension of assurance to all British nationals, wives and widows of ex-servicemen). You and I agreed that I should fill Mr Llewellyn in and find out the Governor's thoughts on pursuing the wives and war widows issue.
2.
Mr Llewellyn telephoned me to give me a read-out on the meeting. This had indeed been congenial; partly because the Governor had not expected to change the Home Office mind and also because he perceived the Home Secretary as doing his best to help. The Home Secretary had in fact himself brought up special legislation - in order to knock this project on the head. (Mr Howard had said that he had looked at this idea, but that he had had to accept officials' advice that there was too great a possibility of the legislation being
"hijacked"/amended/prayed in aid as a precedent by other groups. He had therefore reluctantly decided that this course was ruled out). He had however offered to write to each member of this category personally to extend the invitation to come to the UK at any time in order to begin the qualifying period before naturalisation as a British Citizen.
3. Mr Llewellyn thought that the Governor would probably have gained nothing at this point by pushing harder at the door. The Governor is inclined to pocket the Home Office offer cosmetic it may be, but a personal letter from the Home Secretary might at least have a mollifying effect at the other end. It was worth pursuing and HKG will do so.
4.
The Governor had made it clear, without thumping on the table, that the issues he had raised were all ones which would not go away and that he would be bound to wish to raise them again with the Home Office. Mr Llewellyn feels that the Governor will certainly want to invite the Home Secretary to look yet again at the prospect of separate legislation - it
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min.cligovho.NAT
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CODE 18-77
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