TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 181

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CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 240933Z FEB

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 192 OF 24 FEBRUARY, 1981

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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON. HICK 34° beam fod for 1651

FOR YOUDE FROM GOVERNOR

See (95) #101

175

(બ

88B) MY TELNO 174: NEW NATIONALITY BILL

RECEIVEY

NO. 51

26 FEB 1981

GECK OFFICER MICHAEL PALLISER

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1. THE MOUNTING UNEASE ABOUT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES

SAND OF THE LEGISLATION TO WHICH I REFERRED IN TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE... WAS VERY EVIDENT IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. UNOFFICIALS ARE STILL NOT CONVINCED AT THIS STAGE THEY COULD NOT SECURE AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL UNDER WHICH THE CATEGORY OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP APPLIES NOT ONLY TO THOSE WITH A RIGHT OF ABODE IN U.K. BUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL REMAINING DEPENDENCIES THOUGH WITHOUT A RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE U.K. 1.E. THAT THIS WOULD BE BC(UK), BC(HK), BC(GIBRALTAR) ETC. THUS AT LEAST THE "BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WOULD BE RETAINED. ALTHOUGH I

EXPLAINED THAT A SINGLE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WITH A RIGHT TO ENTER AND

REMAIN IN U.K. WAS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE BILL THEY WERE NOT PERSUADED.

2. THEY ALSO REMAIN DEEPLY CONCERNED AT THE PROPOSAL THAT HONG

KONG CUKCS WILL BE REQUIRED IN FUTURE TO APPLY FOR NATURALISATION IN U.K. AFTER HAVING OBTAINED THE NECESSARY QUALIFYING RESIDENCE.

THEY REGARD THIS AS A SEVERE EROSION OF THE PRESENT POSITION. MOREOVER THEY CLAIM THAT NATURALISATION IS A PROCESS NORMALLY

APPLIED TO ALIENS.

3. A FURTHER COMPLAINT HAS EMERGED THAT FAR TOO LITTLE TIME HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS VERY COMPLICATED BILL AND THAT THE PROCEDURE IS SUCH THAT IT MAKES MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION FROM HONG KONG DIFFICULT. THEY POINTED OUT THAT IN 1962 VIRTUALLY NO OPPORTUNITY WAS GIVEN TO HONG KONG TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT A BILL WHICH HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON HONG KONG PEOPLE, AND THAT THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING AGAIN.

4. IN DISCUSSION I TOLD EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THAT I WOULD BE READY TO COME TO THE UNITED KINGDOM TO REPRESENT THE GROWING UNEASE WHICH IS NOW APPARENT NOT ONLY AMONGST UNOFFICIALS BUT AMONGST AN INCREASING NUMBER OF THE MIDDLECLASS IN BUSINESS AND THE PROFESSIONS UPON WHICH WE RELY SO HEAVILY FOR OUR ECONOMIC

PROSPECTS AND STABILITY.

5. WE ARE NOW PUTTING IN HAND A FURTHER AND IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE BILL, THE AMENDMENTS WE HAVE SO FAR PROPOSED AND THOSE WHICH MAY EMERGE AS A RESULT OF AMENDMENTS IN COMMITTEE. THIS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN JOINTLY BY OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS WITH THE OBJECT OF PRODUCING A PAPER TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON THE 3RD MARCH.

CONFIDENTIAL

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