TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 46

00 GOVERNOR HONG KONG

GRS 251

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 08160OZ OCT 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 782 OF 8 OCTOBER.

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM DONALD

FCO TELNO 777: NATIONALITY BILL

31073

2

Hier 340/1

ник

12 OCT 1991

DESK OFFICER INDEX

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391

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1. THE HOME SECRETARY WAS NOT WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF

A FALL-BACK FOR HONG KONG IN THE LORDS, PARTLY BECAUSE HE WISHES

TO RETAIN THE STRENGTH OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR THE REVERSAL OF THE

GIBRALTAR AMENDMENT IN THE COMMONS. THE LPS STILL RETAINS AN

OPEN MIND ABOUT PRESSING FOR AGREEMENT ON A CONTINGENCY FALL-BACK. THE LATEST TIME THAT THIS COULD BE INTRODUCED WOULD BE AT THIRD

READING IN THE LORDS ON 20 OCTOBER. (NO NEW AMENDMENTS CAN BE

INTRODUCED WHEN THE COMMONS CONSIDERS AMENDMENTS SENT DOWN FROM

THE LORDS.) A DECISION WOULD THUS HAVE TO BE TAKEN BEFORE 20 OCTOBER ON THE BASIS OF AN UP-TO-DATE ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY VOTING PATTERN IN THE COMMONS.

2.

MEANWHILE IN THE LORDS ON 7 OCTOBER, AN AMENDMENT TO GIVE FALKLAND ISLANDERS BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FAILED WITH A DEAD HEAT VOTE. LORD GEDDES HAS INTRODUCED AN AMENDMENT STATING THAT ALL THREE CATEGORIES OF CITIZENSHIP ARE BRITISH NATIONALS. THIS IS INTENDED TO HELP HONG KONG BUT WILL NOT DO SO, AS THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO OPPOSE IT, FOR REASONS ALREALY EXPLAINED IN FCO TELNO 754.

3. WE WILL OF COURSE DO OUR UTMOST TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG'S CASE IS UNDERSTOOD BUT THE POLITICAL (AND PERHAPS PSYCHOLOGICAL) PROBLEMS HERE ARE FORMIDABLE. THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO GUARANTEE THAT, IF MR ATKINS AGREES TO WRITE AS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 1, THIS WILL CONVINCE THE HOME SECRETARY.

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HK&GD

MR DONALD

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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