TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 137

HKK

R MAR

BEEK OUNCES

34011

YNG. $1

Tyb

INDEX

PA

PESTRY

Action Taken

800 8/5

CO HONG KONG

CPS 250

CONFIDENTIAL

FII FCO 161323Z MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 435 OF 16 MARCH

Copy

set to HICGO

18/3/81

FOLLOWING FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

BEGINS

FOR DAVIES FROM CHAN

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL

NO C

"

FCO TELNO 236 OF 1P MARCH AND YOUR TELECON WITH FORD EARLIER TODAY.

(141)

I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO JONES OF 1. AND T. DEPARTMENT AND HE HAS LARGELY REAFFIRMED THE POINTS MADE IN PARA 17 OF THE DRAFT EXCO MEMO PREPARED HERE LAST FRIDAY. IN FACT HE WENT A BIT FURTHER AND SAID THAT PERHAPS THE ONLY OPTION OPEN AS RECARDS THE NOMENCLATURE FOR ANY SEPARATE CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE POSSIBLE ENABLING CLAUSE WOULD BE QUOTE C OF THE RDT OF X UNQUOTE. ON THE OTHER HAND HE EXPLAINED THAT THE CONCEPT OF AN ENABLING CLAUSE WAS STILL IN A QUOTE VERY FORMATIVE STAGE UNQUOTE. SUCH A CLAUSE IS REING CONTEMPLATED LARGELY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF:

(A) THE POSITION OF ONE OR TWO DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: AND C) THE STRONG FEELING WHICH IS CAINING WEIGHT AMONG MP'S IN BOTH PARTIES THAT CITIZENSHIP SHOULD CARRY WITH IT CLEAR RIGHTS (EG OF ABODE) AND OBLIGATIONS AND THAT, IN THIS RESPECT, A COMPOSITE CEDT MAY NOT BE AN ADEQUATE ANSWER.

3. JONES ALSO SAID THAT, AS FAR AS (A) ABOVE IS CONCERNED, ONLY GIBRALTAR IS CLEARLY INTERESTED IN A SEPARATE CITIZENS!!IP AT PRESENT, BUT EVEN THEM PAY NOT FMD THE EVENTUAL TERMS OF SUCH CITIZENSHIP SUFFICIENTLY ATTRACTIVE. SEPARATE CITIZENS!!IPS WOULD CAUSE PRESENTATIONAL DIFFICULTIES TO 10 G KONG AND PERMUDA AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES TO HTHE FALKLAND ISLANDS. THE OTHER DEPENDENCIES ARE PERHAPS TOO SMALL TO ME REALLY CONCERNED.

4. 1 CXPLAINED TO JONES OUR WORRIES (AS SET OUT IN PARA 10 OF THE EXCO MERO AS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED). HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEMS BUT THOUGHT THEY COULD TE OVERCOME

IM PROPER PRESENTATION. HE HOPED THAT HONG KONG WOULD FEEL ABLE TO

NOT TO OBJECT STRONGLY TO THE ENABLING CLAUSE. I SAID I COULD

NOT PREJUDGE EXCO'S ADVICE.

ENDS

CARRINGTON