TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 212

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2 5 MAR 1981

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Sir E youde

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It will be important to open

1. I agree with this approach.

the ball by explaining Hong Kong's maximum demands, and only

retreat as the Home Office develop their counter-arguments.

2.

Far and away the most worrying aspect is the Home

Secretary's belief that many out of a total of 150,000 well

might wish to come to the UK. We somehow have to find a formula

which will enable us to reassure the Home Office that the numbers

in whose favour the Home Secretary would be required to exercise his discretion would not be alarming. No-one can say whether the figure of 500 mentioned in Mr Clift's brief (paragraph 7) is likely to be accurate or not. The conflict between the Home Office and the FCO interests may be impossible to reconcile. Home Office will want concrete figures now; the Hong Kong Government basically want an abstraction, or rather a general principle, fluffing actual numbers because the problem is one of soothing emotions. Be that as it may, I think Mr Clift's draft brief is enough to go on for the first round. It is proposed that Mr Adams and I should both attend the talks with the Home Office,

supported by Mr Jones and Mr Clift.

18 February 1981

agree with An Donald.

MAR. Glalier

19/2.

19/2.

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A E Donald

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