TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 103

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4.

d) There is plenty of time to think over the problem.

The Committee stage will last about 2 months in the Commons and there will be considerable discussion in the Lords.

I repeated to the Governor the political problems which we saw in concentrating on amendment to the Nationality Bill. He understood this but stressed his own political difficulties. I said that I could not be sure how far the Secretary of State would be prepared to go with the Unofficials. We would let the Governor know.

5.

We had aimed to produce a holding talking point for the Secretary of State expressing understanding and undertaking to look at the problem. In view of the Governor's intervention, which he stressed should be given the same weight as a telegram, I think we should recommend to the Secretary of State that he undertakes to discuss with the Home Secretary how a satisfactory assurance to officials and Unofficials can be found. He might add that we would use the Committee discussion to amend the Bill as far as possible but that this was not necessarily the only way of proceeding. He should certainly make the point that any assurance should be in general not specific terms.

30 January 1981

Din

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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Mr Jones NTD

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