TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 43

PS/Mr Luce

CONFIDENTIAL

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824.7

1. This is the first all-embracing attempt at legislation on nationality since the 1948 Act, which has been amended several times. As the submission shows, there are several problems and for us perhaps the trickiest is the status of overseas citizens. I think the Home Office are trying to take the exercise far too fast and we should not allow ourselves to be tied down to the timetable suggested in the first paragraph of the Home Office Letter of 5 July. Ill thought out legislation on nationality produces the most awful problems, especially for the Diplomatic Service, and we must try and get things right so far as possible first time.

2. I should be grateful if this could be looked at fairly quickly as the Home Office have been told that we will get our views to them before the end of the week.

17 July 1979

CC:

PS/LPS

PS/Mr Hurd PS/Mr Ridley

PS/Mr Blaker

PS/Mr Marten

PS/PUS

Chief Clerk

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Williams

Mr Hall

Mr Stratton

Mr Fergusson Mr Murray

CONFIDENTIAL

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