TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 162

1

+

CONFIDENTIAL

11014 1

THE UK.

HG'S COMMITMENT TO THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

う。

THE DIFFICULTIES FOR THE UK IN BRINGING THE INTERNATIONAL

LAN TERM 'NATIONAL' INTO GENERAL USAGE ARE COMPELLING. BUT ITS

EXCLUSION IN NO WAY PRESENTS PROBLEMS FOR THE DEPENDENCIES, NOR

MOJLD ITS INTRODUCTION GIVE PRACTICAL BENEFITS 20 THEN. WHAT IS

IMPORTANT IS WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL IN PRACTICE CONTINUE TO

REPRESENT THEM INTERNATIONALLY, GIVE CONSULAR ASSISTANCE AND HELP

WITH ENTRY INTO THIRD COUNTRIES, ETC. MINISTERS HAVE GIVEN

ASSURANCES ON ALL THESE POINTS AND ARE WILLING TO REPEAT THE!.

MINISTERS HAVE IN FACT BEEN UNQUALIFIED IN THEIR APPROACH TO THE

DEPENDENCIES IN ALL DISCUSSIONS OF NATIONALITY. IN THE WHITE

PAPER THEY SAID THAT CBDT 'HOULD IN NO WAY ALTER THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN THOSE TERRITORIES AND THE UK, MOK THE GOVERNMENT'S

OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS TO THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AND TO

THEIR CITIZENS'. IN THE SECOND READING DEBATE MR WHITELAV

REAFFIRMED THAT 'THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS IN NO WAY INTENDED

TO WEAKEN THESE LINKS OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS WITH THE DEPENDENCIES

CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS TO WHICH WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE...

JHAT I WANT TO STRESS IS THAT THE BILL IN NO WAY ALTERS THE

POSITION AS REGARDS THE UK'S MORAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE TERRITORIES IN QUESTION'. DURING THE

COMMITTEE STAGE AND ELSEWHERE MINISTERS HAVE REPEATEDLY DRAVI

ATTENTION TO AND REPEATED THESE ASSURANCES. THAT IS THE REALITY

OF THE SITUATION. IT IS IN NO WAY DIMINISHED BY UNWILLINGNESS

TO INTRODUCE A NEW DESIGNATION WHICH BRINGS NO PRACTICAL BENEFITS

BUT WHICH BECAUSE OF DISAGREEMENT ON ITS MEANING AND CONSEQUENCES

WOULD INEVITABLY CREATE GRAVE DIFFICULTIES FOR THE UK.

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HARD

NTD

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER PS MRLUCE

PS/PUS SIR.E. YOUDE MR DONALD MR ADAMS

CONFIDENTIAL