TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL

Enlin

Заб

HRK 740/

11 RECEVED IN REDSSTRY NO. 51

- 8 JUL 1981

DESK OFFICEN

INDEX

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SWIA 2AH

PA

REGISTRY Action Takı

BCC:

227

6 July 1981

Mr Clift, HK&GD

Mr Addison, Home Office

من

862012

HONG KONG AND THE NATIONALITY BILL

301

At a meeting with Lord Carrington on 23 June on his return to the UK for a visit the Governor of Hong Kong said that a number of Lords has asked him if he wanted them to put forward any kind of amendment to the Nationality Bill. He had said no but he would be grateful for their support in opposing any special treatment for Gibraltar. He proposed to report to Lord Goronwy Roberts about the latter point.

Hong Kong have also reported to FCO that in the Governor's press conference on his departure for this visit he said that generally speaking the Bill was now fairly satisfactory to Hong Kong. He expressed confidence that the Commons amendments would stand up in the Lords. Of course the comment about the fairly satisfactory nature of the Bill to Hong Kong has to be understood in the context that Hong Kong, like all the other dependencies, would have preferred no change from the present CUKC or a shared citizenship with the people of the UK.

The Governor's comments are interesting in comparison with comments made by a number of Members in the Second Reading Debate in the Lords who quoted representations from official Hong Kong sources (Lord Mishcon referred to a Hong Kong Government Office in London release) to the effect that there was fundamental and deep- seated opposition in Hong Kong to the Bill. We understand that what the Hong Kong Government were really trying to do was stimulate opposition to any pro-Gibraltar amendments, by making the point that a rather unhappy Hong Kong would not stand any further causes for dissatisfaction but they rather over-emphasised Hong Kong's dissatisfaction, it seems. It is a narrow line to tread.

All this is for your own background information only. We will consider carefully the line to take in Committee.

I am copying this to Doreen Lothian (Private Secretary to Lords Trefgarne and Skelmersdale) and to Sarah Kippax.

M D Boyle Esq

Private Secretary to Lord Belstead

Minister of State

Home Office

M JK Rickerd Private Secretary to Mr Luce

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