TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 62

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Mr Donald

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HKCR

34011

RECEIVED IN REPASTRY NO. 51

- 9 FEB 198!

DESK OFFICER INDEX

مثل

PA

15.4.

$15

REGISTRY

Action Taken

веро

213

47

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NATIONALITY BILL: HONG KONG: PETITION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Problem

1.

see

The locally-engaged members of the Hong Kong Administrative

Service have petitioned the Secretary of State concerning the

38 Nationality Bill (Hong Kong Telegram No 95). The Governor has

asked for instructions on how to speak at a meeting with the

petitioners. (Hong Kong Telegram No 94).

B

37

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that the Governor be authorised to speak on the

lines of the attached draft telegram.

Background

3.

NTD agree.

The argument in the petition is the same as the main point

which Sir S Y Chung and Mr O V Cheung made to Lord Carrington on

2 February: the need for HMG to provide a haven for local officers

(and Unofficials) from Hong Kong in the event of a Chinese take-over.

Argument

4. We cannot give a substantive reply to the petition until

we have gone further in discussion with the Home Office following

the Secretary of State's letter to the Home Secretary. It would,

however, be helpful for the Governor to tell local Administrative

Service members how matters stand. He could assure them of the

Secretary of State's sympathy without any commitment as to how a

solution can be found.

5.

Lord Shepherd's undertaking.

Reference is made in the

penultimate paragraph of the petition to an assurance given in

October 1967 by the then Minister of State, Lord Shepherd, that

/Crown

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