TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 163

BY BAG

FM FCO 2811332

CONFIDENTIAL

SAVING

CONFIDENTIAL

SAVING TELEGRAM

(GNN 340/14)

TO HONG KONG TELNO 21 OF 28 MARCH

AND SAVING TO PEKING

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

MY GUIDANCE SAVING TEL NO 66 OF 28 MARCH:

DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON NATIONALITY LAW

1.

You will see from the saving telegram under reference that Ministers have now concluded the Review of Nationality Law about which Brown wrote to the Acting Governor on 24 September.

2. Paragraphs 6 and 7 of the saving telegram under reference contain basic guidance, on which you will wish to draw in explaining the proposals in the Green Paper to your Executive Council, and We in response to enquiries when the Green Paper is published. are conscious that the proposals in the Green Paper are likely to give rise to a good deal of uncertaininty in Hong Kong. You will know best how to present the proposals but you may wish to lay particular stress on the following points:

(a) that the proposals in no way affect the right of entry

into the UK of those citizens of the UK and Colonies already possessing this right;

(b)

that the proposals do not have any implication for the constitutional relationship between the UK and Hong Kong;

(c) that the interval that will elapse between publication of

the Green Paper and the enactment of new legislation on nationality is specifically designed to allow for further study and consultation concerning the proposals.

OWEN

and

FILES

NTD

HKD

FED

PLANNING STAFF

GGD

MR HAWLEY

COPIES TO:

MR LEE, B 4 DIVN

HOME OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL