TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 147

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concern in Hong Kong is that the exclusion under the Bill should be

removed. He stressed that there would not be a flood of applications

and it would be possible to defend refusals. He sought no better

treatment for Hong Kong Crown Servants than that to be given to

Crown Servants overseas employed by HMG in the United Kingdom.

The amendment could be defended in Parliament on the latter grounds

and that it applied only to individual cases of substantial merit.

It was not directed to any particular situation.

4.

Agreement of (a) and (c) were quickly reached, subject to

precise legal drafting. The Home Office were more cautious about

(b). However, the Governor stressed that this point was vital to

him and Home Office officials have undertaken to recommend to

Ministers that this point should be covered.

5. It was agreed that the wording of the amendments should be

worked out before Lord Carrington visits Hong Kong at the end of

Otherwise he would be in no position to give the

this month.

assurances which would be necessary.

The next step is for the Home

Office to report the meeting to the Home Secretary. The Home

Secretary would then get in touch with Lord Carrington, probably

early next week in order to get joint endorsement of specific

proposals.

6. Exactly what the Secretary of State could say in Hong Kong,

whether in public or in private, would, of course, have to be

carefully considered in order not to appear to pre-empt Parliament's

decision. When he returns to Hong Kong this weekend, the Governor

will be limited in what he can say even to his Unofficials and

particularly to the Press. To the former it was agreed that he

could say in strict confidence that, subject to precise legal

drafting:

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