TNAG-1083-FCO40-1333-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 15

HKK

340/1

RECEIVED HIBERY NO. 51

7 MAY 1981

CONFIDENTIAL

CEK OLACER

INDEX

PA

RECKTRY (Action Takaj

Pas 810-

GR 120

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 070416Z MAY 81

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 483 OF 7 MAY

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

Sec (20/1

PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR

hus,

YOUR TELNO 435: NATIONALITY BILL

THANK YOU FOR APPROACHING MR WHITELAW. IF HIS REPLY IS NEGATIVE ONE OR TWO MEMBERS OF UMELCO WILL CERTAINLY WISH TO EXPLAIN THE RESULTANT PROBLEM TO MR WHITELAW IN PERSON BEFORE THE DEBATE ON THE REPORT.

234

2. UNLESS THEY DO THEY WILL LOSE CREDIBILITY WITH THE PUBLIC. MOREOVER THEY FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT, THE BILL IS DESCRIBED AS ''TO MAKE FRESH PROVISION ABOUT CITIZENSHIP AND NATIONALITY'' AND THEY FEEL IT IS UNREASONABLE TO LEAVE THEM IN DOUBT AS TO WHAT THEIR FUTURE NATIONALITY WILL BE, AND TO GIVE NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT IS NOT COVERED IN THE BILL.

3. IF THERE IS SOME CONVINCING REASON WHY NOTHING CAN BE ADDED TO THE BILL, I THINK A COMPROMISE ALONG THE LINES OF PARA 8 OF MY TELNO 443 MIGHT HOLD THINGS HERE. MACLEHOSE

MINIMAL

HK & GD

NTD

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER PS/MR LUCE PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE

MR ADAMS

MR DONALD

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

LONDON

глу

250

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