TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 152

Mr Smedley

19

HKK 340/1

CONFIDENTIAL

No

22.6.

Nationality & Treaty Department

REVIEW OF BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW

1. I agree generally with the views expressed in Mr Quantrill's minute of 31 May (below). His description of the likely conse- quences in Kong Kong should Ministers decide to go ahead with the 1977 Green Paper proposals is perhaps a little apocalyptic. But there can be no doubt that the establishment of two categories of British citizenship, with CUKC in Hong Kong placed firmly in the second, would be strongly resented in Hong Kong and would severely strain Hong Kong/UK relations.

2. The inability of the British Government to provide more than diplomatic support for Hong Kong in coping with the present influx of Vietnamese refugees is also relevant. The Government's initial reluctance to take the "SIBONGA" refugees went down very badly. In this connection you should be aware that the Governor of Hong Kong is being recalled for consultations, primarily over the Vietnamese refugee problem, in the second half of next week. We are hoping to arrange for him to see a Home Office Minister, preferably the Home Secretary himself. The Governor will not want to raise the question of Nationality Law on this occasion. He will prefer to wait until he is here again in July unless we advise him that that would be too late.

3. I hope you will give me the opportunity to comment on the draft of the submission mentioned in paragraph 1 of r Quantrill's minute.

5 June 1979

R JT McLaren

Hong Kong & General Department K246 233 3184

CONFIDENTIAL