TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 106

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AN UNDERTAKING WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCRETIONARY, BUT MY

THOUGHT IS THAT IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO SAY THAT ANYONE

WHOSE SERVICE HAD PLACED HIM IN AN EXPOSED POSITION WOULD

BE TREATED SYMPATHETICALLY IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS COULD

BE ANALOGOUS TO THE UNDERTAKING WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, ALBEIT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS:

FOR OBVIOUS REASONS IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG, IT WOULD

HAVE TO BE KEPT SECRET.

IF YOU AGREE THAT THIS IS A POSSIBLE WAY TO TACKLE WHAT WE

KNOW IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM, OUR NEXT TALKS WOULD BE TO

EXPLORE THE POINTS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS.

PERSONALLY I THINK THAT IF WE ATTEMPT TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL AMEND-

MENTS TO THE BILL IN THE DIRECTION OF GIVING HONG KONG RESIDENTS

WHAT CRITICS WILL SEE AS A BACK DOOR TO FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP,

WE ARE LIKELY TO COME TO GRIEF. OUR SOUNDINGS IN THE HOME OFFICE

CONFIRM THIS. IF ON THE OTHER HAND, WE TREAT THE PROBLEM AS

A MORAL AND POLITICAL ONE REQUIRING SOME KIND OF SECRET UNDER-

TAKING, IN CONJUNCTION WITH MINOR BUT IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS TO THE

BILL, THIS HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF SECURING GOVERNMENT AND

PARLIAMENTARY SYMPATHY.

THIS TELEGRAM RAISES SOME PARTICULARLY DELICATE ISSUES AND

I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD TREAT IT AS ENTIRELY PERSONAL

FROM ME.

g.

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HKGD

HD|NTD

PS/MR LUCE

(1)

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

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