TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 28

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SUMMARY OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE CHIEF CLERK GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG : 9 MARCH 1981

HONG KONG : NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION

Present

Sir E Youde

Mr Donald

Mr Adams

Mr Jones

Mr Clift

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Sir M MacLehose

Mr D R Ford

Mr J Chan

FCO Discussion with Home Office Officials

1. Mr Donald and Mr Adams described the two meetings held at Under-Secretary level with Home Office officials. At the first, the Hong Kong position had been very strongly stated with background on the political reasons for Hong Kong's sensitivity on the Nationality Bill. It had been made clear that changes to the Bill itself were vital for Hong Kong. All the proposals for amendments which Hong Kong had put forward up to that time were put to the Home Office including the need to provide for Crown Service in its widest sense and to reassure former CUKCS in the Territory. The Home Office officials had listened without commitment. At the second meeting, while discussion remained entirely without commitment and subject to Ministerial approval, some examination was possible of more precise amendments

on:

a) Measures to provide for the naturalisation of Crown

Servants at the Home Secretary's discretion;

b) Provision for registration not naturalisation, of Hong

Kong people who had lived for a qualifying period in the UK. It remained uncertain whether this would be an unconditional right or still subject to qualifications of good character, etc.

c) Provision for Crown Service in Dependent Territories to

count towards the residence qualification for naturalisation as British subjects.

The Home Office had made the point that it would be necessary for people in these positions to obtain the right of entry to the UK before they could be considered.

2.

In addition, the FCO officials made clear that further Ministerial statements would be necessary reaffirming HMG's commitment to Hong Kong.

/Hong Kong's

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