TNAG-0800-FCO40-1004-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-Nationality-1978 — Page 25

香港布政司署

SECRET

See 23

13

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,

HONG KONG,

SCR 39/2091/72

The Right Honourable

David Owen MP

etc etc etc

Sir,

HKK 340/1

340/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY/NO. 51 10 JUL 1978

DESK OF ICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Teen

CLS

uly 1978-

THE GREEN PAPER ON BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW

FOREMON

In April 1977 the Secretary of State for the

AND

COMMON

LTH OFFIC

10 JUL 1978

ALLOCATIONS SECTION

Home Department presented to Parliament a Green Paper

"British Nationality Law:

entitled:

Possible Changes".

2.

Discussion of

The changes proposed in that paper have caused

considerable anxiety in Hong Kong and might, if

implemented, have serious political consequences.

3.

The implications for Hong Kong of the Green

Paper have been discussed between officials of the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office and of the Hong Kong

Government. They have also been the subject of direct

representations by Unofficial Members of the Executive

Council to the Minister of State, Lord Goronwy-Roberts.

In this despatch I would like to consolidate, and

reiterate, Hong Kong's view of the proposals in the

Green Paper.

4.

The Hong Kong Government recognises the case

for change as explained in the preface to the Green

Paper. However, we believe that Hong Kong's unique

situation was not given adequate weight when the

SECRET

-1-

eefts

1979