TNAG-0661-FCO40-810-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 57

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Mr Hawle

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

letters to issue

8.

HONG KONG: VIEWS OF THE UNOFFICIALS ON THE NATIONALITY PROPOSALS

1. When Sir Y K Kan and Dr S Y Chung called on Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 8 June, they presented the Minister with a written statement

of the views of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and

Legislative Councils on the British Government's Green Paper

"British Nationality Law: Discussion of Possible Changes". They also made a number of points on the timing of the consultation process and the common treatment of inhabitants of all dependencies. Lord Goronwy-Roberts undertook to write to the two Unofficials,

giving HMG's views on the written memorandum and on the oral points that they had made.

2. It would appear from the written statement that the Unofficials are paritcularly keen to have an assurance from HMG that would allay suspicions that the Green Paper might represent a weakening of the UK's commitment to Hong Kong. In fact, the

Hong Kong Government asked for such an assurance, for use in

public if necessary, after receiving advance copies of the Green Paper (paragraph 7 of Hong Kong telegram no. 375 of 15 April refers). Lord Goronwy-Roberts approved the Hong Kong Government's request (FCO telegram no. 296 of 22 April) but we have no evidence

that the assurance has yet been used in Hong Kong. An assurance that nothing in the Green Paper would affect the UK's commitment to the security and integrity of Hong Kong should go some way towards satisfying the Unofficials and I suggest that the formula previously authorized for use by the Hong Kong Government should be included in Lord Goronwy-Roberts' reply.

3.

Since the Minister's meeting with the two Unofficials, Mr Hal Miller MP (Conservative Bromsgrove and Redditch) has tabled an Oral Question to ask what representations the Secretary

of State received from the Government of Hong Kong or other

Official bodies on the subject of the "Government Consultation

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