CONFIDENTIAL
NATIONALITY BILL: LORD CARRINGTON'S MEETING WITH THE HOME SECRETARY
ON 26 MARCH
POINTS TO MAKE
1.
Grateful for new clause which meets Hong Kong's essential points. Need to agree line to take in Hong Kong about this clause which does
not conflict with line taken in Parliament. This could be:
TO THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR OFFICIALS
2.
Government proposing additional clause covering acquisition of British citizenship by registration which fully meets Hong Kong's essential points. This would include right of CBDT and others to registration as British citizens after 5 years' residence in the UK and give Home Secretary discretion to register a CBDT as a British citizen according to special circumstances of each case if they had undertaken public service under the Government of a dependent territory.
3. Registration after 5 years' residence would be entitlement provided residence qualifications met. Registration of public servants would not be entitlement and discretion would be exercised very sparingly as for other Crown Servants overseas. Not directed at any special circumstances in a dependency. No promises made to any particular category. Brings treatment of dependent territories Crown Servants generally into line with other Crown Servants.
4. [If pressed]. Cannot anticipate how or to what extent (other than very sparingly) Home Secretary will exercise discretion.
5. A flood of applications would not be in the interests of Hong Kong or the UK.
6. No more concessions available.
TO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXCO AND UMELCO
As in paras 2 and 3 above.
CONFIDENTIAL
/TO THE PRESS
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.