TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 85

9.

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Mr Cheung asked that the present multiple entry certificate for limited numbers of businessment visiting the United Kingdom should be extended from 2 years to 4. The United States authorities gave a visa for 4-5 years. It would be reasonable to match this. Only a small number of people would be involved and abuses would be easy to control. Lord Carrington said that he found the objections to this totally unconvincing. The FCO would press the Home Office hard on this point.

10.

Lord Carrington said that the visitors would be seeing the Home Secretary on 6 February. The FCO would fight for Hong Kong's position. The nationality issue was, however, very complicated, with many anomalies (eg the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar as well as Hong Kong). He had particular sympathy for Hong Kong's case over Crown Servants. There might, however, be difficulty over the numbers involved. Sir S Y Chung said that the numbers would .be large if all the police and other public servants were included;

it would be best not to mention numbers. They could be limited by discretion.

11.

Lord Carrington said that an assurance had been made to the very small number of Falkland Islanders in anticipation of trouble from Argentina but the Falkland Islanders were dissatisfied with an oral

He assurance which they suspected might not be honoured later. recognised Hong Kong's wish for the Bill not to close any doors and the need for reassurance, He would write to the Home Secretary putting Hong Kong's points. The matter was, of course, primarily one for Mr Whitelaw. He thought the latter would not be able to give a definite answer by 6 February; the case must be considered carefully.

12. Mr Cheung

recalled the idea of Sir Charles Fletcher-Cooke in the Second Reading Debate that there should be separate citizenships for each Dependent Territory. He thought that this proposal should not raise too many difficulties with the Chinese Government. Mr Ford said that the point was analogous to that made by Sir Paul Bryan that passports should describe Hong Kong people as 'British (Hong Kong) Citizens'.

Distribution

Private Secretary

PS/LPS

PS/Mr Blaker

PS/Mr Luce

PS/PUS

Sir E Youde

Mr Donald

Mr Adams

IIKGD

NTD

MVD

Governor, Hong Kong

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