TNAG-0800-FCO40-1004-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-Nationality-1978 — Page 58

CONFIDENTIAL

IT IS OFFICIALLY ESTIMATED IN WHITEHALL THAT THE NUMBER OF HONG KONG-CHINESE WITH AUTOMATIC RIGHT TO SETTLE IN BRITAIN 184.

IS MINUTE COMPARED WITH EXCESSIVE ESTIMATES IN SOME EXTREME REPORTS.

THERE IS NO SIGN OF THE CALLAGHAN GOVERNMENT INTRODUCING

LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING NEW NATIONALITY LAWS FOR A FEW YEARS.

WHEN THE LAWS ARE DRAFTED IT WILL BE FOUND THAT THE GREEN PAPER

PROPOSALS WHICH CAUSED CONTROVERSY IN HONG KONG WILL HAVE BEEN

LARGELY REWRITTEN AND RESHAPED.

THE RECENT CONTROVERSIAL SPEECH ON RACE AND IMMIGRATION BY

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, MRS MARGARET THATCHER, IS DESCRIBED

IN LONDON AS SO MUCH THINKING ALOUD WITHOUT ANY DETAILED PLANS

BEING DISCUSSED, LET ALONE PREPARED IN DETAIL BY HER SHADOW

CABINET.

ALREADY, SHE HAS BEEN THROWN ON THE DEFENSIVE, BY HIGHLY CRITICAL SPEECHES OF HER VIEWS BY HER PREDECESSOR, MR EDWARD HEATH, AND BY

MR ENOCH POWELL.

HER COLLEAGUES IN THE SHADOW CABINET EXPLAIN SHE WAS REFERRING TO PRESENT PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE IMMIGRATION OF DEPENDENTS AND PROSPECTIVES WIVES AND HUSBANDS OF ASIANS ALREADY SETTLED IN

BRITAIN.

IN THE PRESENT CONTEXT, THIS LARGELY MEANS IMMIGRANTS OF INDIAN AND PAKISTANI EXTRACTION, MANY OF THEM FROM AFRICAN STATES.

THE QUESTION OF AN INFLUX OF "MILLIONS OF CHINESE' AS REFERRED

TO IN SOME REPORTS REMAINS HYPOTHETICAL.''

MACLEHOSE

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MR CORMAZZI

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CONFIDENTAL