CONFIDENTIAL
1 I have discussed these papers with Mr Donald. I recognise the Home Office have made great efforts to help and that the Governor said some time back that he would not press further. But, as was borne in on us during the Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong, we are faced with a new situation a strongly rising head of steam on the nomenclature issue among the Unofficials. The growing feeling is reflected in the Governor's telegram to me No 446 of 28 April attached.
2
I can well understand the reluctance of Mr Luce and Nationality and Treaty Department to re-open the issue with the Home Office, but from the Hong Kong side of the Office I have to support the recommendation that we should do so. Hong Kong have no representation in Parliament and their only channel of advocacy is through the Governor and the Secretary of State. If, on an issue on which there is such strong feeling, the Secretary of State was not ready to put Hong Kong's case, it could contribute to an increasing loss of confidence in HMG on the part of UMELCO.
3 As I think the Secretary of State recognised when in Hong Kong, it is in logic very difficult to fault the case on nomenclature made out by the Unofficials. The Bill is headed clearly 'British Nationality Bill' and we do accept that those in the new categories of citizenships will still be 'British (or UK) nationals' in the popularly accepted sense of that term. In the light of this, the Unofficials will inevitably reach the conclusion that there is at least a complete lack of concern or, at worst, an ulterior motive in our unwillingness to specify their national status as they ask.
30 April 1981
CONFIDENTIAL
Edward Youde
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