TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 151

GPS 220

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 261006Z JAN 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

HKK 340l1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 0 3 FEB1981

DESK OFFICER

CONFIDENTIALINDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Take.

TELEGRAM NUMBER 72 OF 26 JANUARY

FOLLOWING FOR DONALD FROM GOVERNOR

NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION.

See (23

24

25

1. AS WE HAVE FORECAST UNOFFICIALS HAVE REACTED TO THE NATIONALITY

BILL WITH DISMAY AND SUSPICION.

2. FEELING THAT THIS LEGISLATION REFLECTS A NEW DECISION TO

DISTANCE HONG KONG FROM UK HAS BEEN REINFORCED BY THE SHORT TIME ALLOWED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. IT DID NOT HELP THAT

THEY READ THIS IN THE PRESS BEFORE I COULD FOREWARN THEM.

3. THEY NOW ARE CONVINCED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND FCO HAVE

DONE TOO LITTLE TO HELP.

including Hougkay.

4. IT WOULD HELP IF IN THE COURSE OF THE SECOND READING AT LEAST

THE FOLLOWING 3 ASSURANCES WERE GIVEN BY MINISTERS: (A) ON LINES SET OUT IN PARA 16 OF THE WHITE PAPER: (B) THAT IF, AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES IN THE BILL, CBDT'S (OR WHATEVER THEY ARE EVENTUALLY CALLED) FIND THAT THIRD COUNTRIES MAKE NEW DIFFICULTIES OVER ENTRY HMG WILL MAKE THE STRONGEST

REPRESENTATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE EXISTING FREEDOM OF TRAVEL IS

MAINTAINED, AND

(C) THAT ALTHOUGH SO MANY CBDTS RESIDE IN HONG KONG, THIS DOES NOT,

REPEAT NOT, MEAN THAT THE PROPOSALS ARE PARTICULARLY DIRECTED TOWARDS HONG KONG.

5. THE HONG KONG OFFICE IS ARRANGING FOR SIR S Y CHUNG AND MR O V

CHEUNG TO CALL ON MR WHITELAW NEXT WEEK. WHILST IN LONDON I HOPE IT WILL BE CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO CALL ON MR BLAKER AND, IF HE IS SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE, THE LORD PRIVY SEAL TOO.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

NTD

HK&GD

PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER

>

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

MK ADAMS

CONFIDENTIAL

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