TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 131

M: Figg Mr Murray

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

LONDON SWIH 9AT

Mr Jones (for entry) 13 March 1980

Mir

&

HAH Cortazzi Esc CMG

Foreign and Commonwealth office HICK 34011

LONDON SW

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.

19 MAR 1980

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

19/3

PA

REGIST Action Tuke.

No

J33

AN 31

Nati

31

It may be helpful if before our meeting on Tuesday next I set out the timetable for the White Paper and the Bill and identify what seem to be the main matters on which our two Departments have to reach agreement.

The Home Secretary is particularly anxious that publication of the White Paper in the late spring or early summer should not be endangered. He is under very strong political pressure to pub- lish soon. If a place in next year's legislation programme is agreed then he would hope to be in a position to introduce the Bill at the beginning of the next session.

A draft of the White Paper, necessarily with a few gaps but reasonably complete, is now with the divisions of the Immigration and Nationality Department here, and when Lee has held a meeting with them in about a week he will send a revised version to Jones. We intend the the White Paper shall say pretty clearly what the Government's intentions are on the principal topics, though in one or two places it may have to have green edges. We shall probably explain in a preface that people must not expect to find in it exact details of the provisions: for those they will have to wait for the Bill itself.

•

Mis mont important matta s on which we have to reach agreement seen to r to be as follows:-

More tested afgeblases?-09 end their titles

{

We really must get

1.3 Placemental question

So be, threc citizenships the best WEY C presenting

we shall have to cercida

che third cinizenship: it will not be easy to show

that the United Kingdor Passport Holders are being

given anything very worthwhile.

心。

Citizenship by Descent

This is a very difficult problem. Hilary has

sent Jones the draft of a paper, and we have been

promised FCO comments very soon.

C.

Citizenship by Virtue of Marriage

We are looking again at our previous proposals

in the light