TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 63

ANNEX B

非官守員辦事處

行政立法兩局

香港遮打道九至二十五號

太古大厦十三槛

Office of Unofficial Members of

Executive and Legislative Councils

Swire House, 12th floor,

9-25 Chater Road,

電話

Ek Your Ref:

* Our Ref:

UT 5166

Hong Kong

Tel:

3-213506

Date:

27th February 1981

The Rt. Hon. the Lord Carrington, KOMG, MC, Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London via His Excellency Sir Murray MacLehose,

GBE, KCMG, KCVO,

Governor of Hong Kong.

Dear Lont Carrington,

British Nationality Bill 1981

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.

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.

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.

/p. 2

53A