TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 155

GR 220

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

г

AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 3 MARCH

FM HONG KONG 020816Z MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 224 OF 2 MARCH

Hip

34011 COPY

RECEIVED DEPUTE

- 5 MAR 1981

BESK OFMCER

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON INDEX

M.I.P.T.

105

REGISTRY

Action Taken

PA

30.3.

Pla 3013

To by

See

107

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF LETTER FROM SIR S.Y. CHUNG TO LORD CARRINGTON

(ORIGINAL BY BAG) BEGINS :-

1. AT OUR MEETING WITH THE HOME SECRETARY ON 6TH FEBRUARY, 1981, MR. O.V. CHEUNG AND I ASKED THAT THE DOOR SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED TO FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS FROM HONG KONG ON THE BILL. THIS ASSURANCE

WAS READILY GIVEN.

53A

2. WE HAVE NOW HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT OUR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES. ATTACHED BELOW IS A PAPER EXPRESSING THE UNANIMOUS VIEW OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS OF HONG KONG ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL 1981 NOW BEFORE PARLIAMENT. PARAGRAPH 7 IDENTIFIES TWO SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE

WE BELIEVE THE BILL ERODES THE EXISTING RIGHTS OF HONG KONG BRITISH SUBJECTS AND THE PRESENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG. WE CONSIDER THIS CONFLICTS WITH THE PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED IN THE WHITE PAPER AND THE ASSURANCES REPEATEDLY GIVEN TO US.

3. WE SEEK ADVICE ON HOW THESE RIGHTS AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

UNITED KINGDOM MAY BE SEEN IN HONG KONG TO BE PRESERVED. WE HAVE PROPOSED MEASURES WHICH WOULD HAVE THIS EFFECT AND MAY WISH TO MAKE

FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS IN THE LIGHT OF HMG'S RESPONSE TO THIS SUBMISSION.

4. AN ADDITIONAL COPY OF THIS LETTER AND ENCLOSURE ARE ATTACHED WHICH WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST BE FORWARDED TO THE HOME SECRETARY.

ENDS

(F.C.O. PLEASE COPY TO HOME OFFICE). J

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

HK&GD

NTD

FED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE MR DONALD MR ADAMS

COPIES TO:

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL