TNAG-0661-FCO40-810-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 42

Mrs Hartles (NTD CL 526)

CONFIDENTIAL

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HONG KONG: NATIONALITY PROPOSALS

1.

We spoke. I understand from Mr Stewart, who is on leave, that Mr Murray has recently spoken to Mr Smedley about the implications for Hong Kong of the Green Paper on Nationality. Mr Murray feels that we should investigate the possibility of some alternative solution for Hong Kong than that provided for in the Green Paper which we might suggest to the Hong Kong Government as their reaction to the Green Paper. I understand that this idea may arise from the discussions which Mr Davies, the Secretary for Security (and other matters) in Hong Kong, had with your department and Mr Stewart when he was in the Office in mid-August. I understood you to say that you had seen a reference to the discussions with Mr Davies.

2. I confess that I do not know what alternative solution for Hong Kong might be devised which could be acceptable to the Home Office and to the Hong Kong Government. It may be that any record that exists of the discussions with Mr Davies may shed light on this point. In addition, you told me that you are trying to extract from the Home Office copies of correspondence that Dr Shirley Summerskill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, has had with an MP about the nationality proposals as they affect Hong Kong. I suppose it is possible that that correspondence might help us in pursuing Mr Murray's idea. Perhaps we could leave it that Mr Mitchell will consider the point when he returns from leave next week and let me know what, if anything, can usefully be done.

3. In order to complete NTD's records of the Hong Kong aspects of the nationality proposals I attach a copy of a letter of 19 August to Lord Goronwy-Roberts from Dr S Y Cheung, the senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. You should already have received a copy of a similar letter from Sir Y K Kan, the senior Unofficial Member of the Executive &

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31 August 1977

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1 SEP 1988

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Hong Kong & General Department K 247

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INDEX

PA

CONFIDENTIAL