TNAG-0903-FCO40-1113-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 109

THE HOME OFFICE OBVIOUSLY DO NOT EXPECT THE

GOVERMENTS CONCERNED TO WELCOME THE CHANGE. WHAT

THEY WOULD LIKE IS AN INDICATION OF WHAT THEIR PUBLIC TITUDE TO IT WILL JE. HOME OFFICE MINISTERS WILL

啼

.E HOPING FOR SOME SORT OF ASSURANCE OR INDICATION

THAT THE GOVERNMENTS WILL NOT RAISE FORMAL OBJECTIONS

OR PUBLICLY CRITICISE THE CHANGE. AS YOU MAY KNOW,

IN 1972 SOME CONSERVATIVE MPS VOTED WITH THE LABOUR

OPPOSITION AGAINST THE IMMIGRATION RULES THEN TABLED

BECAUSE THEY DID NOT REGARD THEM AS ADEQUATELY

RECOGNISING CONNECTIONS WITH THE OLD COMMONWEALTH, AND

IT WAS THIS THAT LED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE

PRESENT RULE. THE LIKELY REACTION TO THE WITHDRAWAL

OF THE RULE NOW COULD BE AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.

•

5. IN APPROACHING THE GOVERNMENT YOU SHOULD STRESS

THAT THE REVIEW OF THE IMMIGRATION RULES IS A HIGHLY

SENSITIVE SUBJECT HERE AND SO THE CHANCES UNDER

CONSIDERATION ARE NOT BEING MADE PUBLIC. YOU MAY SAY

THAT THE GOVERNMENT ARE BEING CONSULTED AT AN EARLY

STAGE ON THIS RULE SO THAT THEIR VICKS CAT PE TAKEN

PROPERLY INTO ACCOUNT. FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND

CONSULTATION WILL BE NECESSARY IN LONDON, AND THERE

ARE CERTAIN OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO

ACCOUNT, AND THERE IS NO QUESTION OF A FINAL DECISION HAVING ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO DO AWAY WITH THE UK

ANCESTRY PROVISION.

6. WE THINK THAT THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENTS WOULD ATTACH MORE IMPORTANCE TO THE

WORKING HOLIDAYMAKER RULE. THE TEXT OF THIS RULE, WITH

AMENDMENTS BEING CONSIDERED TO IT UNDERLINE",

IS IN MY

INMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TELEGRAM. YOU WILL SEE THAT THE RULE REMAINS

INTACT BUT SOME LIMITATIONS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN INTO IT, SOME

OF THEM TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF SITUATIONS WHICH HAVE ARISEN. THERE

IS NO OBJECTION TO YOUR INFORMING THE GOVERNMENT OF THIS IF

YOU THINK IT WILL HELP, PROVIDED THAT IT REMAINS STRICTLY

CONFIDENTIAL.

7.

I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR REPLY TO ARRIVE NOT LATER

THAN 16 AUGUST.

3.

PLEASE RESTRICT THE CIRCULATION OF ȚU

PELEKAM.