TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 165

CONFIDENTIAL

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SENSE ALREADY USED BY MR LUCE IN COMMITTEE, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL

UNDERSTAND THAT THE FCO AND ITS MINISTERS HAVE NOW REACHED THE

END OF THE LINE AS FAR AS LOBBYING THE HOME SECRETARY IS

CONCERNED. I HAVE TO WARN YOU ALSO THAT OUR JUDGEMENT IS THAT IF

A DELEGATION COMES TO LONDON TO CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR FURTHER

CONCESSIONS FOR HONG KONG, IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT THE HOME

SECRETARY WOULD GIVE THEM A HEARING.

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MINISTERS HERE ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE HAMMERING YOU HAVE

BEEN TAKING FROM SIR S Y CHUNG AND OTHERS IN EXCO AND SYMPATHISE.

EUT THERE IS SOME RISK THAT THE IRRITATION FELT IN WHITEHALL

ABOUT THE UNREMITTING PRESSURE FROM UNOFFICIALS MAY SPILL OVER

INTO OTHER SPHERES, THEREBY LOSING GOODWILL FOR HONG KONG ON

OTHER ISSUES WHICH MAY HAVE GREATER PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR

HONG KONG. APART FROM THE EMOTIONAL ISSUE OF NOMENCLATURE,

HONG KONG HAS DONE EXTRAORDINARILY WELL OVER THE WAY THE

NATIONALITY BILL HAS BEEN CAST AND AMENDED, AND I HOPE THAT YOU

WILL FEEL ABLE TO QUASH FURTHER CRITICISM ROBUSTLY.

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IN TELLING EXCO THAT FCO MINISTERS FEEL WE HAVE COME TO

THE END OF THE ROAD, YOU MIGHT ADD THAT:

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(I) HONG KONG HAS GOT THE SEPARATE CATEGORY IT

ASKED FOR:

(II) THE BILL AS AMENDED GIVES HONG KONG MORE THAN

IT HAS UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, AT LEAST IN

RESPECT OF CROWN AND PUBLIC SERVICE:

(III) WHEN NEW PASSPORTS ARE ACQUIRED, AND FOR MANY

THIS WILL BE A LONG TIME AHEAD, THEY WILL LOOK

SIMILAR TO THE PRESENT ONES AND WILL STILL BEAR THE

DESCRIPTION BRITISH PASSPORT' ON THE OUTSIDE.

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BOTH YOU AND WE THEREFORE CAN BE QUITE VIGOROUS IN

REAFFIRMING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE FOR HONG KONG AND THAT

OUR TIES ARE AS SOLID AS EVER. MINISTERS IN THE COMMONS AND

LORDS WILL, I AM SURE, SEEK WHATEVER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE

TO CONTINUE TO REAFFIRM THE UK COMMITMENT.

267/12.

MIFT CONTAINS DETAILED BACKGROUND MATERIAL ON WHICH YOU

MAY DRAW FREELY FOR USE WITH UNOFFICIALS. THE OBJECTIONS TO THE

TERM 'BRITISH NATIONAL' IN PARAGRAPH 4 ARE CRUCIAL, AND FORM THE

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