TNAG-1029-FCO40-1279-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 51

Mr Donald

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CONFIDENTIAL

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HONG KONG: NATIONALITY BILL

Problem

1.

How to respond to a proposal by Hong Kong that the Nationality Bill

should be amended to include a declaration that Citizens of British

Dependent Territories continue to be British Nationals.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that the Secretary of State should minute the Home

Secretary along the lines of the attached draft and inform the Governor

that he is doing so; I also attach a draft telegram. NTD have been

consulted but do not agree with the recommendation. Nevertheless, I

feel that the case in Hong Kong political terms outweighs their arguments

against raising the matter with Mr Whitelaw.

Background

3. The subject was discussed by the Secretary of State during his visit

to Hong Kong, first privately with Sir S Y Chung (Hong Kong Telegram

No 351) and later with UMELCO as a whole (Hong Kong Telegram No 360)

(FCO Telegram No 314 provided briefing for the latter meeting). Hong Kong

Telegram No 390 reported a further discussion between the Governor and

the Unofficials, at which the latter contested the view that it would be

X impracticable to use the term British National in the new citizenship

title. Hong Kong Telegram Nos 443 and 444 reinforce this view and the

latter contains the Governor's specific proposal for an additional clause

in the Bill.

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4. At his meeting with UMELCO, Lord Carrington undertook to take up the

matter with the Home Office but stressed that he was not optimistic.

question has been discussed with the Home Office and at an FCO meeting

chaired by Mr Luce. Both the Home Office and Mr Luce are opposed to the

amendment proposed.

CONFIDENTIAL

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