TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 137

GR 170

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 030816Z MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 227 OF 3 MARCH

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

FOR YOUDE FROM GOVERNOR

NATIONALITY BILL

M.I.F.T. REPORTS ON TODAY'S EXCO MEETING.

TOP COPY

нки 3400

RECEIVED IN BURY NO. 51

3- MAR 1981

028K OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

303.

всро зов

See /118,

IT WAS SATISFACTORY

IN THAT UNOFFICIALS LEFT THINGS TO ME FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT NOW THAT THEY HAVE HAD TIME TO STUDY THE BILL THIS STRENGTH OF

FEELING IS OBVIOUS.

2. THEY HAD ASSUMED ON GOOD AUTHORITY THE BILL WOULD HAVE NO PRACTICAL EFFECT ON THEM. HOWEVER ON ANALYSIS OF THE BILL THERE ARE CLEAR EROSIONS OF EVEN THEIR EXISTING POSITION. THIS MAKES THEM ALL THE MORE SENSITIVE TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL SHOCK OF HAVING THEIR EXISTING CITIZENSHIP LEGISLATED AWAY.

3. THE COMBINATION OF PRACTICAL, POLITICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS HAS ACTED LIKE A CATALYST. CONCERN THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO REASSURE THOSE ON WHOM THE COLONY DEPENDS FOR ADMINISTRATION

AND ORDER IS ONE ASPECT. BUT THOUGH AT PRESENT REACTIONS ARE CONFINED TO THE SMALL, INFLUENTIAL AND ARTICULATE MINORITY, IF THEIR LEGITIMATE FEARS ARE NOT CALMED BY A SUBSTANTIAL RESPONSE BY H.M.G. THIS CONCERN COULD SPILL OVER AND AFFECT THE CONFIDENCE OF A MUCH WIDER SECTION OF THE POPULATION. THIS COULD BE SERIOUS.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

HK & GD

NTD

FED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE

MR ADAMS

MR DONALD

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

110