TNAG-0800-FCO40-1004-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-Nationality-1978 — Page 23

SECRET

Mr Smedley,

Nationality and Treaty Department

HKK 340/1

RECEIVED IN REDAT MO. 51 1 1 AUG 1978

DESK INDEX

RY

PA

Action Taken

Nok

GREEN PAPER ON BRITIGH NATIONALITY LAW: HONG KONG VIEWS

1.

The Hong Kong Director of Immigration, Iir Bridge, called on me yesterday. He had no particular points to raise but we had some discussion about the Acting Governor's despatch of 7 July recording the Hong Kong Government's objections to the changes in British Nationality Law outlined in the 1977 Green Paper (a copy of this despatch was sent to Mr Paterson of your Department under cover of Mr Thompson's minute of 2 August). Mr Bridge accepted that at this stage we could do little more than undertake to ensure that the points made by the Hong Kong Government were carefully considered before decisions were taken. But he suggested that we might delay drafting a reply to the despatch until we had had an oppor- tunity to discuss the problem with Mr Davies, the Hong Kong Secretary for Security who has been much involved in the develop ment of the Hong Kong case.

2. Mr Davies will be calling on the Department on 12 September and has told us that he would like to talk about this question. It might be useful if we could clear our minds beforehand, and you may think it appropriate to arrange a small meeting, either before or after obtaining preliminary Home Office views. I would be happy to attend or send a representative.

If so

(15)

R JT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

10 August 1978

Cc:

Mr Shepherd,

Migration and Visa Department

SECRET