TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 141

707

GR 1240

CONFIDENTIAL

AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 3 MARCH 1987)

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 020830Z MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 225 OF 2 MARCH

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDO NË

M.I.P.T.

106

ник

OP COPY

340/1

RELENES DAY NO. 51

5 MAR 1981

DESK OFACER

INDEX

مان

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

djah. Po 30/3

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PAPER REFERRED TO IN PARA 2 OF M.I.P.T.

BEGINS

IT IS A MATTER OF RECORD THAT THE COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1962 UNILATERALLY SET-ASIDE THE RIGHT OF HONG KONG CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES (CUKC'S) TO VISIT AND RESIDE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITHOUT RESTRAINT.

2. THE GREEN PAPER ENTITLED BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW: DISCUSSION OF

POSSIBLE CHANGES, PUBLISHED IN APRIL 1977 PROPOSED THE SIMPLIFICATO AND UP-DATING OF THE LAW RELATING TO BRITISH NATIONALITY.

3. IN RESPONSE TO OUR VIEWS ON THE GREEN PAPER, AS PRESENTED PERSONALLY TO THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE IN JUNE 1977 BY THE TWO SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE THEN MINISTER OF STATE AT THE F.C.O., THE RT. HON. LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS REPLIED IN A LETTER DATED 4TH AUGUST 1977 1-

''THE GREEN PAPER DOES NOT INDICATE ANY ALTERATION IN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG AND ITS COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG'S SECURITY AND PROSPERITY. THE CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG IS UNAFFECTED.

YOU WILL OBVIOUSLY WANT TO STUDY THE TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE GREEN PAPER CAREFULLY AND WE SHALL BE INTERESTED IN THE VIEWS COMING FROM HONG KONG ON THE SUBJECT. IN GENERAL, HOWEVER, THE GREEN PAPER DOES NOT ENVISAGE THAT (COMMENCE UNDERLINING) ANY EXISTING RIGHTS WILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE PRESENT GENERATION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. (CEASE UNDERLINING) FOR INSTANCE, THOSE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES WHO ARE AT PRESENT FREE OF IMMIGRATION CONTROL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WOULD RETAIN THIS RIGHT. LIKEWISE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE PROTECTION TO BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS.''

CONFIDENTIAL

/4. WE HAVE