TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 118

154

GPS 170

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 1909 30 Z

*

FM HONG KONG 190652Z MAR 81

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 305 OF 19 MARCH

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

Hick 3401,

RECOTYLE ASSY NO. 51 23 MAR 1981

156

BESK OFICER

INDEX

PA

RESTRY Actor, Takeni

مل

81.4.

Pas $15

YOUR TELNO 258: NATIONALITY BILL: PQ.

See (155

1. WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING ANSWER: QUOTE CONSULTATION WITH HONG KONG TOOK PLACE THROUGH THE GOVERNOR BEFORE AND AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER WHICH WAS WIDELY PUBLICISED IN THE TERRITORY. IN ADDITION REPRESENTATIONS ON THE BILL HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNOR'S UNOFFICIAL ADVISERS SINCE ITS PRESENTATION. THESE HAVE

BEEN DISCUSSED IN MEETINGS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND MINISTERS AND THE POINTS WHICH HAVE BEEN RAISED ARE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMEN OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS ONCE THESE POINTS ARE CLEARED I HOPE THAT THE BILL WILL BE GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE TO HONG KONG CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS. UNQUOTE.

2. IN THE CURRENT STAGE OF THE DISCUSSIONS AND UNTIL THEIR OUTCOME

IS CLEARER IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO INCLUDE THE PORTION IN SQUARE BRACKETS. IN ANY EVENT I WOULD REGARD IT AS PREMATURE TO USE THE

WORDS ..

I BELIEVE'' AND SUGGEST '' I HOPE''.

3. WE WOULD SEE ADVANTAGE IN MAKING SOME REFERENCE TO WHAT IS BEING SOUGHT, IF MINISTERS AGREED, BUT WE WOULD WISH TO SEE THE PASSAGE PROPOSED IN YOUR PARA 3 AMENDED BY INSERTING QUOTE NOMENCLATURE AND UNQUOTE AFTER THE WORD CONCERN.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED HK&GD

NTD

MR DONALD

MR ADAMS

CONFIDENTIAL