:
.......
GRS 225
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 280810Z JULY 81
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 708 OF 28 JULY
HKK 340/l
нки
KEJEVED IN REGISTRY SR. ST
30 JUL 1001
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
BG.
P
Tar
Мая
681 166/81
327
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LUN
320
YOUR TELEGRAMS 615 AND PERSONAL 21 OF 23RD JULY: BRITISH
NATIONALITY BILL
\wp
THESE DEVELOPMENTS WERE DISCUSSED IN UMELCO LAST
FRIDAY AND IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THIS MORNING. UNOFFICIALS
REMAIN DISTURBED AT WHAT THEY SEE AS A CHANGE IN THE SITUATION
FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF THE GIBRALTAR AMENDMENT, THOUGH THEY RECOGNISE THAT WHAT BRITAIN DOES FOR GIBRALTAR IS FOR
HMG TO DECIDE.
2. THEY ARE CONSCIOUS OF GROWING CRITICISM EXPRESSED MOSTLY
PRIVATELY THAT THEY ARE BEING SEEN TO BE DOING INSUFFICIENT TO MAKE HONG KONG'S VIEWS KNOWN. DESPITE THIS MEMBERS HAVE
DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ANY PRECIPITATE ACTION AND TO AWAIT
DEVELOPMENTS. THEY REMAIN DETERMINED THAT SOME MEANS OF
STRESSING THE BRITISHNESS'' OF HONG KONG CBDT'S CAN BE FOUND.
3. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND SOME HAVE REVERTED TO THE POSSIBILITY
OF A CLAUSE REFERRING TO BRITISH NATIONALITY BEING INSERTED
IN THE BILL. WHEN THIS WAS FLOATED IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THIS MORNING I SAID FIRMLY THAT I SAW NO CHANCE WHATEVER OF
SECURING THIS OBJECTIVE. I BELIEVE THAT, DEEP DOWN, THEY ACCEPT BUT IN THE LIGHT OF THE GIBRALTAR AMENDMENT THEY
CLEARLY BELIEVE TOO THAT THE VERY LEAST THAT CAN BE DONE FOR
HONG KONG IS SOME QUITE SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT TO
REFLECT BRITISHNESS IN THE PASSPORT.
4. I WILL CONTINUE TO GUAGE THE SITUATION AS IT DEVELOPS AND
WILL TELEGRAPH FURTHER IN EARLY AUGUST.
seel 367
CATER
LIMITED
HK & GD
NTD
MVD
SED
PS
PS/LPS
PS/MR RIDLEY
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR E YOUDE
MR DAY
MR ADAMS MR DONALD
(THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON STREET, LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
noted Pas
30/7
BY MAK
387
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