TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 141

00 HONG KONG DESKEY 02010OZ

GRS 170

SECRET

DESKBY 02010OZ

FM FCO 011450Z MAY 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 497 OF 1 JUNE

SECRET

TOP COPY

12617

HIR 34011 нки

RECEIVED PASTRY NO. 51

-

JUN 1981

DESK OFFICER

WDEX

صارع

PA

449316

FOR GOVERNOR FROM YOUDE

YOUR TELNO 532: BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL

WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH UNOFFICIALS

AND ENCOURAGED BY YOUR TEL UNDER REF.

1.

2.

WE INTEND TO RECOMMEND THAT A REPLY TO SIR S Y CHUNG'S

LETTER SHOULD ISSUE AFTER THE THIRD READING BUT BELIEVE IT

WOULD BE UNWISE TO LINK THE TIMING DIRECTLY TO THIS IN SPEAKING TO UNOFFICIALS NOW. THIS IS NOT BECAUSE WE DO NOT EXPECT HOME

OFFICE MINISTERS TO GIVE THE ASSURANCES WE ARE ASKING FOR BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT YET GOT FIRM CONFIRMATION THAT WE WILL DO

so.

WE WOULD BE IN TROUBLE IF WE DREW PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE THIRD READING AND IN THE EVENT NOTHING NEW CAME OUT OF IT.

3. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT IF YOU ARE PRESSED BY EXCO ON 2 JUNE, ON AN ANSWER TO SIR SY CHUNG'S LETTER, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT IT IS BEING CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY AND YOU EXPECT

A REPLY TO ISSUE PROBABLY BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

CARRINGTON

NNNN

DIST

LIMITED

PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE

HKGD

NTD

MR DONALD MR ADAMS

MVD

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER PS/MK LUCE

1

SECRET

COPIES TO

HKGO LONDON

277