TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 243

75°

Аляк

Mr Clift, HEGD

PS/Mr Blaker

HONG KONG

1.

(390)

SECRET

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NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION

Hkit 340/1

16/40.

RECEIVED IN EAST NO. 51 16 FEB 1981

BESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

مر

REGISTRY Action Taken

430. Pão 3013

I am submitting notes for Mr Blaker on recent developments affecting Hong Kong. However problems over the Nationality Bill are the most important and could affect relations between London and Hong Kong for some months. I therefore summarise them separately in this minute.

2. There has been renewed and very strong disquiet in Hong Kong over the Bill. The main points of concern are:

3.

a)

b)

continuing suspicion of a distancing of the UK from Hong Kong, now heightened by the presentation of the Bill to Parliament and the Second Reading debate.

Worries by senior civil servants and Unofficials that they would be left without effective nationality or a safe haven if there were a Chinese take-over. In particular there are strong objections to a provision of Schedule 1 of the draft Bill which would limit to employees of the Government of the United Kingdom the option of citing Crown Service as a qualification for naturalisation as British Citizens (Para 1(3)). The Governor has described this as the crux of the problem.

c) The problem of statelessness for children in Hong Kong

of legal and illegal immigrants who have not acquired resident status by living in the Territory for seven years.

d) Attitude of Third Countries who may tighten their immigration

procedures against Citizens of the British Dependent Territories (CBDTs).

Two senior Unofficials, Sir S Y Chung and Mr O V Cheung, met the Secretary of State on 2 February (record attached). Following this meeting and strong representation from the Governor the Secretary of State wrote to the Home Secretary urging amendment to the Bill to meet the problems the Hong Kong Crown Servants and suggesting official talks. The Unofficials accompanied by Sir Paul B Bryan MP Saw Mr Whitelaw on 6 February (record attached).

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4. No reply has yet been received from the Home Secretary but we understand that he is likely to agree to official talks, without commitment. We are preparing for these and are consulting the Governor about the best line to take.

He

5. The Governor is very concerned, particularly at the risk of resignations or serious loss of morale among the Public Service. has forwarded a petition from senior locally-engaged civil servants asking for amendments to the Bill to meet their case. (An interim reply has been submitted to the Secretary of State.) But he is also worried at the effect on the population as a whole and is seeking ways to reassure at least the British passport holders in the Territory. There are of course serious implications for confidence in Hong Kong and for relations with China. There are major difficulties in substantial amendments to the Bill which might appear to open a

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