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RECEIVED MURY NO. 5
25 MAR 1981
51
FM F.C.0. 2018542 MAR 81
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 269 OF 20 MARCH
INDEX
jus 1 Jesse
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE,
LONDON
FOR GOVERNOR FROM FORD
YRTEL 472 OF 20 MARCH.
NEW NATIONALITY LAW.
NIR
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE TEXT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AS THEY NOW STAND BUT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESENT POSITION IS THAT THE NEW CLAUSE WOULD PROBABLY READ AS
IN MIFT.
(166
2. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE SENSITIVITY IN THE COMMITTEE OVER DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE THEY HAVE BEEN TABLED. COMMITTEE MEMBERS FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT CONSIDERATION OF ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IS THEIR BUSINESS AND MINISTERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CRITICISED BY THEIR OWN BACK BENCHERS FOR HOLDING DISCUSSIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE AMENDMENTS WERE TABLED.
3. AS A RESULT OF THIS MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS FEEL
THEY MUST BE IN A POSITION TO STATE PUBLICY THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN DISCUSSED OUTSIDE.
4. AS IT SEEMS FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT THE AMENDMENTS
WILL NOW MEET ALL OUR POINTS AND THAT THE TEXT OF THEM WILL BE MADE PUBLIC BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVES IN HONG KONG, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IF ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OF THE PRECISE WORDING COULD BE LIMITED TO THE WORKING GROUP 164) WHOSE COMMENTS APPEAR IN TELNO 311. I REALISE THIS MAY CREATE
DIFFICULTIES IN TERMS OF THE EXCO MEETING ON TUESDAY BUT AS THE HOME OFFICE AND THE FCO HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL I HOPE WE CAN OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM BY RELYING ON GENERAL REASSURANCES SO THAT MINISTERS WILL NOT FEEL THEIR POSITION HAS BEEN UNDERMINED IN ANY WAY. TO DO OTHERWISE MIGHT JUST PREJUDICE THE OUTCOME OF THE MINISTERIAL MEETING ON THURSDAY 26TH.
CARRINGTON MINIMAL
HK-4D
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Acton Texan
COPIESTO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE,
LONDON,
165)
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