TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 231

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CONFIDENTIAL

From the Private Secretary

10 DOWNING STREET

as for pp

1/

H

31 December 1976

NTD

/cc Ps/Me.huARD

Me. Honzer

Dear Bob

The Home Secretary minuted the Prime Minister on 21 December with a draft discussion document on the Law of Nationality. The Prime Minister has commented:

"This all sounds very neat and tidy.

But I would like an assessment of the likely immediate impact on immigration if these proposals are published, and where would the immigration be from? And what would be the long-term impact on immigration after new legislation?"

The Prime Minister does not share the hope that the Home Secretary expresses in the penultimate paragraph of his minute that the publication of a discussion document will direct public attention away from immigration, but he is not averse in principle to publication, subject to the answers to his questions indicated above and the views of his colleagues.

Copies go to Clive Saville Lord President's Office), John Watherston (Lord Chancellor's Office), Ewen Fergusson (Foreign and Commonwealth Office), Bill Beckett (Law Officers' Department) and Martin Vile (Cabinet Office).

R. M. Morris, Esq., Home Office.

Yours sincerely

John Recit way

CONFIDENTIAL