TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 29

зда,

Mr Merry, MVD

(CL $36)

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

NATIONALITY BILL AND THIRD COUNTRIES

RECEIVED

hxh

HKK 34011

PY NO. 51

16 FEB 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

ملال

PA

好ん

REGISTRY

Action Taken

815.4 PC 810

1. We have seen a precis of a report in a Hong Kong Chinese newspaper that their Immigration Department had already started contacting various Consulates to see if they would change their immigration policies towards British subjects in Hong Kong as a result of the Nationality Bill.

5.4)

обре

2. We hope that this report is incorrect because it is clearly the wrong approach. We need therefore to clarify the position. I have drafted a letter to the Political Adviser (attached) and should be grateful for your comments on it by close of play today. Lord Carrington confirmed to the Unofficials from Hong Kong, when they met on 2 February, that we would look after their interests in this matter - paragraph 8 of the record of the meeting, which you have seen, refers.

See HITH 340/1

178

1982

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

9 February 1981

ә Iwiliamun.

P J Williamson

Hong Kong and General Department K242

Mr Williamson, HKGD (K 242)

сс Mr Paterson, NTD

233 4439

мовне Нему.

who agrees with be Henny,

T

1. I also hope that the Immigration Department have not started contacting various Consulates to see if their countries' immigration practices towards British subjects in Hong Kong would change as a result of the Nationality Bill. This seems to me entirely the wrong approach. Indeed I have grave doubts about the need for any approach at all on these immigration questions. Surely the way to play this is to assume that those countries which now allow Hong Kong British- passport holders to visit without visas will continue to do so. To bring the matter up might only encourage the countries concerned to consider a change for the worse in a practice with which we and Hong Kong are now entirely happy.

2.

When I discussed this question with you at the time of the Second Reading of the Nationality Bill, I said that I thought it would be appropriate for HMG to make representations to those coun- tries who, as a result of the Nationality Bill, imposed a visa requirement on Hong Kong British-passport holders wishing to visit their countries. This, of course, does not apply to countries like Austria and West Germany who already have a visa requirement for Hong Kong British-passport holders. We have, as you know, been trying to get this removed but that is an entirely different matter unconnected

CONFIDENTIAL

/with