TNAG-1031-FCO40-1281-Visits-by-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1981 — Page 28

covering

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 026/13

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.

INCEN

ملك

02 JUL 1981

* GFAC

CALL BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE: 23 JUNE 1981

Present:

37

340/1

The Rt Hon The Lord Carrington

Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO

KCMG MC

Mr Nicholas Ridley MP

Mr A E Donald CMG

Mr R D Clift

Mr R M J Lyne

NATIONALITY BILL

1.

Sir M MacLehose thanked the Secretary of State for his efforts on Hong Kong's behalf. The fact that the question of nomenclature had been put again to the Home Office had helped to pacify the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO). He did not think that they would now be sending a lobbying delegation to London.

#

2.

The prospects for the Bill in the House of Lords were discussed. sir M MacLehose said that a number of Lords had asked him if he wanted them to put forward any kind of amendment. He had said not but would be grateful for their support in opposing any special treatment for Gibraltar. He proposed to write to Lord Goronwy-Roberts about the latter point.

3.

Lord Carrington asked whether he could help in any other way. Sir M MacLehose said that Hong Kong CBDTs were still concerned about the nationality title in their passports. They would like, if possible, to be called 'British'. Mr Donald said that if we pressed the Home Office on this point they would certainly say that the only title should be 'Citizen of the British Dependent Territories'. However, something could be made of the fact the document would continue to bear the title 'British Passport'. Lord Carrington and Sir M MacLehose agreed that there was no point in pressing this question any further.

DISTRIBUTION:

HKGD (to enter) ✔

Private Secretary

PS/LPS

PS/Mr Ridley

PS/Mr Luce

PS/PUS

Sir E Youde (o/r)

Mr Adams

Mr Donald

Mr Jones, NTD

Acting Governor, Hong Kong (Personal)

CONFIDENTIAL