TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 192

GR 320

CC

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 1210442 MAY 81

AL

MKR. 340/1 RECEVY NO. 51 13 MAY 1981

256

(WP)

!

!

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 494 OF 12 MAY

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

PERSONAL FOR DONALD FROM GOVERNOR

YOUR TELNOS 442 AND 445 : NATIONALITY BILL

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I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH CLIFT.

OPSK OLVICER INDEX

PA

2. THERE WAS A FURTHER LONG AND UNHAPPY EXCHANGE IN EXCO TODAY.

SIR S.Y. CHUNG QUOTED MR LUCE'S STATEMENTS IN COMMITTEE ON 28TH APRIL (HANSARD COLUMNS 1387 AND 1390) THE PEOPLE OF ALL OUR DEPENDENCIES ARE UK NATIONALS, ETC' AND ''I GAVE NO SPECIFIC ASSURANCE THAT WE HAD A COMMITMENT TO GIVE UK NATIONALS THE RIGHT

OF ABODE'' HE SAID THESE WERE EXCELLENT. UMELCO ACCEPTED THE

SECOND POINT, AND THE FIRST WAS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED. THEN THEY ALL PRESSED ME TO EXPLAIN WHY IF THESE TRUTHS COULD BE STATED BY A MINISTER IN COMMITTEE, THEY COULD NOT BE INCORPORATED IN THE BILL.

·

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3. I SAID THAT WE MUST AWAIT THE HOME SECRETARY'S REPLY, AND SPOKE ALONG THE LINES OF (A) AND (C) OF TELNO 442, AND, WHEN THEY SPOKE OF VISITING LONDON, AS IN PARA 4 OF YOUR TELMO 445. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THEM WITH, AS TTHEY SEE IT, THEIR OWN NATIONALITY

AND THAT OF THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT AT RISK, TO ACCEPT THESE ARGUMENTS AS CONCLUSIVE,

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4. I SAID THE IMMEDIAT PROBLEM WAS WHAT FURTHER ACTION THE S OF S

WOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE IF MR WHITELAW'S REACTION TO INCLUSION OF A NEW CLAUSE WAS NEGATIVE, AND SUGGESTED THE FALL-BACK POSITION IN PARA 8 OF MY TELNO 443. WHILE FAR FROM IDEAL, I STILL THINK THIS WOULD JUST MEET PRACTICAL AND POLITICAL NEEDS HERE. IF THIS COURSE IS ADOPTED IN VIEW OF PARA 4 OF YOUR TEL 445 THE STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF THE NATIONALITY OF CBDTS I PRESUME SHOULD BE VOLUNTEERED RATHER THAN MADE IN RESPONSE TO M.P.'S COMMENTS.

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5. IF THERE IS DIFFICULTY ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL STATUS IN PASSPORTS BEING MADE IN THE HOUSE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS ARE PREFERRED (WHICH WOULD BE A PITY), I SHOULD HOPE THE DIRECTION TO OUR IMMIGRATION OFFICER COULD BE MADE IN THE FORM OF A FORMAL DESPATCH TO ME.

SEE M.I.F.T.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED MD/NKED MY INTO PS/MA LUCE

SIRE YOUDE TA ADAT5 пре дошлад

CONT

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