TNAG-0362-FCO40-408-Constitutional-development-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 5

CONFIDENTIAL

Page

Miss Kelly, HKIOD

HX 26/8

Reference

LIFE PEERAGES FOR HONG KONG

1. In your minute of 10 December you asked for our views on paragraph 1 (c) of Mr Youde's minute to Mr Guest.

2. There are no precedents of Life Peers being created in any past or present Dependent Territory. The only possible precedent PCD can identify was Sir Learie Constantine who was created a Life Peer on his retirement to Britain.

3. The Life Peerage Act 1958 makes provision to confer on any person a peerage for life. The application of this Act is not and could not be restricted to Hong Kong alone.

4. Any creation of Life Peerages for Hong Kong personalities would surely give rise to claims for similar recognition of people from other Dependent Territories. Representation of Dependent Territories in the House of Lords by this means is not so great a stride from demands for direct representation in the House of Commons.

5. If, in spite of these and other objections which seem overwhelming, it is thought expedient to pay more than lip service to the idea, a ground rule might be that Hong Kong personalities could only be considered for Life Peerages when they are permanently resident in Britain.

14 December 1973

CONFIDENTIAL

ى الله عي

BE Pauncefort

Gibraltar and General Department

DD 145177 219242 500M 4/73 GM 3643/2