TNAG-0980-FCO40-1199-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 196

PRODROME LON

H K GOVT. LDN TX2097

PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG GRS 190

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONGA ID 301655 JULY 80

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER HK836 OF 30 JULY

FOR SECRETARY FOR SECURITY FROM WEBB-JOHNSON

NATIONALITY WHITE PAPER

HOME SECRETARY INTRODUCED WHITE PAPER IN HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS AFTERNOON. IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS IN SHORT DEBATE FOLLOWING HE DECLINED TO ANNOUNCE THE DATE OF THE SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE IN THE NEXT SESSION BUT SAID THAT IT WOULD BE HELD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HE AGREED TO CONSIDER THE SHADOW HOME SECRETARY'S SUGGESTION THAT THE LEGISLATION BE SUBJECTED TO DETAILED EXAMINATION BY A SELECT COMMITTEE.

2.

DURING QUESTIONS FROM BACKBENCHERS HAL MILLER WELCOMED THE INTRODUCTION OF A THIRD CATEGORY OF CITIZENSHIP AND ASKED WHETHER THE HOME SECRETARY WOULD CONSIDER REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING NOMENCLATURE. WHITELAW REPLIED THAT THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES.

3. FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES WILL PRESENT THEMSELVES TO PRESS THIS POINT. HANSARD WILL FOLLOW BY EXPRESS AIRMAIL.+++

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SENT 1705

H K GOVT LOND PRODROME LDN

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