TNAG-1083-FCO40-1333-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 11

00 GOVERNOR HONG KONG.

Mr

HICK 340

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NO DISTRIBUTION

252

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GR 380

CONFIDENTIAL

RECAVZO IN BECKSPRY NO.

1 8 MAY 1981

FM FCO 071715Z MAK OFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Acton Taken:

TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG

100

TELEGRAM NUMBER 442 OF 7 MAY 185

Mor wallin

FROM FORD

207

几

YR TEL 724 OF 7 MAY

2.5%.

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Al

34/5 HK-C

HEGO

Mr Dehold

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telager in der ford.

1. Manice 1/5

HKLD

1. I THINK THE HOME OFFICE RELUCTANCE IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING: (A) ALTHOUGH THE LEGISLATION IS DESCRIBED AS A NATIONALITY BILL, IT I IS IN FACT A CITIZENSHIP BILL, AS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF IT IS TO CREATE A CLASS OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WHICH CARRIES WITH IT THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE HOME OFFICE DOES NOT WISH TO BLUR THE EDGES OF THIS POSITION BY INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF A BRITISH NATIONALITY WHICH COULD BE CONFUSED WITH

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.

See ASA

WP (B) YOU WILL SEE FROM THE HANSARD OF THE COMMITTEE ON 28 APRIL THAT MR, LUCE WAS CHALLENGED BOTH BY STANBROOK AND LYON ON HIS DEFINITION OF BRITISH NATIONAL. THE HOME OFFICE MAY WELL SEE THIS AS A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE IN THAT IT THEY WERE TO BE DRAWN INTO

FURTHER ARGUMENT ON AN AMENDMENT THEY MIGHT FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DEFEND THEIR DEFINITION OF A BRITISH NATIONAL:

(C) THEY ARE ALSO RELUCTANT FOR POLITICAL REASONS TO BE SEEN TO BE BRINGING FORWARD. FRUTHER AMENDMENTS OF THEIR OWN WHEN THEY

HAVE JUST IMPOSED THE GUILLOTINE. IF THEY WERE TO DO SO THEY COULD BE ACCUSED OF RAISING NEW AND SUBSTANTIAL ISSUES BUT PROVIDING NO TIME FOR THE DEBATE OF THEM. I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THE HOME OFFICE OR FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTERS WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO GIVE AN ASSURANCE ALONG THE LINES OF OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT. INDEED, IN THE RECORD OF THE MEETING REFERRED TO IN PARA 1(3) ABOVE, MR. LUCE DID JUST THAT. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT SUCH A REASSURANCE WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY STRENGTHENED IF REFERENCE COULD BE MADE IN THE PASSPORT TO THE BRITISH NATIONAL CONCEPT.

2. IF WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE ASSURANCE AND SOMETHING IN THE

PASSPORT, BY PERSONAL VIEW WOULD BE THAT FOR UMELCO TO TAKE MATTERS FURTHER BY SENDING A DELEGATION TO MR. WHITELAW COULD WELL PROVE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE. NO OPPORTUNITY IS BEING LOST OF REMINDING ME OF OUR ASSURANCE THAT IF WE WERE GIVEN CLAUSE 9 WE WOULD NOT RAISE FURTHER ISSUES. I REALISE. OF COURSE..THAT OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT