TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 28

CONFIDENTIAL

Artichoven

N. Jones discussed this with me at Mr Quadra Some length. I made it clear that "

GNN 340/24 did not think much of the argument about getting this out of the way before becoming involved in the dispute over

Does Has take

full account 1

made? There are

Mr Figg nomenclative; but since he seemed partic- the comments pin

ularly attached to this (and I could not

actually say that we were opposed to it-merely that crime oda, kei I thought it would ton out to be irrelevant), "I agreed to his gorg

abead.

(1160)

2. No Jones took the pon't that the telegram to Hong Kong would need to be in a somewhat different form from the draft attached: Whe agreed to leave discussion of the actual test until after the Home Office had replied.

NATIONALITY: CONSULTATIONS WITH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES.

PROBLEM

Castill

CRY

Takan

HKK 340 1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 1. The Home Office are disinclined to consult depengen 1979 territories on the provisions of a new national NCERTO to avoid the risk of any leaks before the presetation "ộ£ PAR Ил draft bill to Parliament. Geographical Departments say that non-consultations would be resented in some dependent territories

and could cause serious difficulties for some Governors.

RECOMMENDATION

2.

the

I recommend that you should write to Mr Hilary putting the case for Governors to be authorised to discuss with their advisers

on a confidential basis the general proposals now under con- sideration on the grounds that to do so now while the principle features can properly be described as "under consideration" is the best course presentationally and practically.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

3. Although not all Governors will have difficulties with their Executive Councils/Ministers etc, if there are no consultations prior to publication of the draft bill, there is no doubt that some of the dependent territories, including Hong Kong, Gibraltar and Bermuda of the larger ones, will raise strenuous objections at what will undoubtedly be considered an insult, particularly as their very titles are being changed. This could result in serious political difficulties for HMG and the Governor concerned.

It could be argued that undertakings have been made in the past by various Ministers to some of the territories, to the effect that they would be consulted before any decisions were taken. The Gibraltarians, in particular, would refer to the /Hattersley

A.

CONFIDENTIAL