TNAG-1030-FCO40-1280-Proposed-visit-by-Humphrey-Atkins--Lord-Privy-Seal--to-Hong--1981 — Page 231

CONFIDENTIAL

BACKGROUND NOTE

MR BLAKER'S STOP-OVERS IN HONG KONG: 1 AND 6 MARCH 1981

Hugh.

до

Doy:

о

understand

1. Mr Blaker may wish to have the following facts to hand during

his brief stops in Hong Kong.

Nationality Bill

2. There remains strong and increasing disquiet in Hong Kong

(particularly among Unofficials) over the Bill, focussing on:

(a) the feeling that the UK is trying to distance itself from

Hong Kong;

(b) worries of senior civil servants and Unofficials that they

would be left without effective nationality or a safe haven

if the event of a crisis;

(c) the problem of statelessness for children of immigrants to

the UK who have not fulfilled the 7 year requirement for

resident status;

(a) the possible attitude of third countries who may tighten

their immigration procedures against CBDT's.

Two senior Unofficials, Sir S Y Chung and Mr O V Cheung, discussed

the Bill with the Secretary of State on 2 February and with the Home

Secretary on 6 February. Home Office and FCO officials met, on the

instructions of their respective Ministers, on 24 February to dis-

cuss Hong Kong's proposed amendments to the Bill. A further meeting

will take place on 4 March and will take account of the ExCo meeting

on 3 March. The Governor may come to London to discuss the issue

with Ministers in the week beginning 9 March. A disturbing element

is suspicion among Chinese Unofficials that expatriate officials,

with their future secure, are not doing enough for the locals.

CONFIDENTIAL

/Overseas