TNAG-0903-FCO40-1113-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 101

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5. OUR OWN VIEW ON THE LIKELY REACTION OF PUBLIC OPINION TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES REMAINS SIMILAR TO THAT EXPRESSED IN OTTAWA

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TELEGRAM NO 322 OF 7 JUNE 1978. AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION THE SCORRI REPORT ATTRACTED VERY LITTLE ATTENTION. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME ADVERSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PART OF INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED AND IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT THEY COULD STIMULATE A QUESTION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, BUT WE WOULD NOT EXPECT PUBLIC REACTION TO BE STRONG OR PROLONGED. IT WAS NOTABLE THAT AT THE TIME OF THE SCORRI REPORT SOME OF THE CRITICISMS EXPRESSED TO US AND TO CONSULAR POSTS WERE BASED ON A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS PROPOSED. NO DOUBT WE WOULD HAVE TO EXPECT SOME CRITICISM BASED ON SIMILAR MIS- APPREHENSIONS. PUBLIC OPINION GENERALLY IN CANADA, HOWEVER, SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLE OF A TIGHT IMMIGRATION POLICY (WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR REFUGEES) OF THE KIND THAT IS NOW OPERATED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERN- MENT, AND WOULD BE LIKELY TO ACCEPT THAT THE GANDER SHOULD GET THE SAME SAUCE.

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