TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

Notes of a Meeting held at Government House Hick 340

on Wednesday 25th February 1981

Present :

HE The Governor

Mr JA Miller

see

125A

(194)

RECEIVED WRASANTRY NO. 51 1 6 MAR 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

Po

REGISTAY

Action Taken

PA

Plis 3013

The Honourable E P Hos?.

Mr Christopher K K Wong..

Mr Michael M K Leung

Mr James Y C So

Mr Donald Y K Tsang

Miss Elle M L Shum

Mr Leo W W Kwan Miss Alice Y Y Tai Mr Norman T L Chan

The Governor welcomed the representatives and expressed his gratitude for the moderate wording of their petition to him of 30th January 1981. He explained. that the Government had been fighting for amendments to

the Bill, as Mr Ho could bear witness. He would however welcome the views of those present and any suggestions

or amendments.

2.

C

Joffi

Mr Ho said that the Local Administrative Officers

had earlier considered lobbying in London but this had been discarded as too public and likely unnecessarily to focus local public attention on the problem. Their main grievance was

that the assurance as regards Crown Servants in Dependent Territories in paragraph 70 of the White Paper was missing

from the Bill. Mr So echoed this saying that the British Government appeared intent on confining the Home Secretary's discretion specifically excluding these Crown Servants from

consideration.

3.

The Governor agreed and said that this had been done both by restricting the definition of Crown Service to the UK and imposing a residence qualification that could be achieved only by the good fortune of a London posting or resignation. He said it was unfortunate that immigration controls had been confused with the essentially philosophical questions of nationality and right of abode. The resultant discrimination against officials and unofficials who served

CONFIDENTIAL

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