TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 37

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DO NOT WE PROPOSE TO CONSIDER OTHER FORMS OF ASSURANCE TO PEOPLE

IN PUBLIC SERVICE. SUCH AN ASSURANCE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE

TO BE PUBLIC, OR, IF CONFIDENTIAL, ACCEPTED AS LIKELY TO LEAK AND NOT SUSCEPTIBLE OF DENIAL. IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO APPLY TO

OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES BESIDES HONG KONG.

6. WE ARE CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:

'IN THE EVENT OF A CHANGE OF STATUS OF A DEPENDENT TERRITORY, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WOULD EXAMINE MOST CAREFULLY AND

SYMPATHETICALLY THE POSITION SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN INCLUDING

ENTRY TO THE UNITED KINGDOM SQUARE BRACKETS END OF THOSE

WHOSE PUBLIC SERVICE IN THAT TERRITORY ENTITLED THEM TO

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION'.

THE PHRASE IN SQUARE BRACKETS WOULD ADD CONSIDERABLY TO THE FORCE

OF THE ASSURANCE BUT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO AGREE. AGAIN THERE IS

THE REFERENCE TO A CHANGE OF STATUS.

7. IF YOU, OR PERCY CRADOCK, BELIEVE THAT A REFERENCE TO ''A CHANGE OF STATUS EITHER IN THE BILL OR AN ASSURANCE WOULD BE

POLITICALLY TOO DIFFICULT, CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY OTHER FORM OF WORDS? ONE POSSIBILITY IS IN THE EVENT OF UNFORESEEN DEVELOPMENTS IN A DEPENDENT TERRITORY SO REQUIRING IT, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

WOULD EXAMINE ......'. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY MORE OPEN TO MISINTER-

PRETATION BUT MIGHT JUST DO.

8. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AND CRADOCK'S VIEWS IF POSSIBLE

BY 090OZ ON 9 FEBRUARY.

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HKGD

NTO

FED

SIR E YOUDE

MR

ADAMS

MR DONALD

r

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