TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 87

370A

Mr Donald

Fortis

NATIONALITY BILI

Hick 34011 CONFIDENT SAL

29 SEP 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

(Action Taken

Mar Clatr

(373

Many thanks. You

have now seen my

f

2879 and discussed

Pasanger the meeting with Lord Trefgarne

Al

28/9

1. You have received a copy of Mr Howells' submission on this. Mr Adams tells me that he has sent the original on to Lord Trefgarne with a minute expressing the view that no concession should be made. to Hong Kong until we are forced into it, ie until the last minute and thus that there should be no advance consultation with the

(371) Governor. I have not yet seen Mr Adams' minute but understand that

there may be some implication in it that Hong Kong are not to be trusted not to encourage a more ambitious amendment.

2.

I think that we could be in serious trouble if we try to hold up a concession and only make it grudgingly at the last minute. You may wish to consider minuting to Lord Trefgarne on the following lines:

371)

'I agreed with Mr Adams that I would comment from the Hong Kong angle on Mr Howells' submission of 25 September and on Mr Adams' minute on it.

3370 A

'I should underline the point which is brought out in the submission, that Hong Kong are concerned with their political relationship with HMG, not with improving their chances of of immigration to the UK, The reasons for their concern are described in the submission but it is worth stressing that the consequences of a sharp deterioration in relations between Hong Kong and London would harm HMG as much as Hong Kong. Not only is the Hong Kong parliamentary lobby a strong one, very ready to question a situation in which the citizenship status of a territory's inhabitants is being altered by a legislation in which they are not represented simply a question of our vulnerability to relátiation by Hong Kong in the commercial field, where there is considerable feeling that the UK has been given too easy a run in obtaining major contracts in which the Executive and Legislative Councils have a say.

Beyond this there is the whole question of main- taining confidence in the present and future stability of Hong Kong. Half of the equation here depends on relations with China, but equally important (and more readily criticised) is HMG's perceived attitude to the Territory.

nor is it

As a

'This feeling explains Hong Kong's approach to the Nationality Bill. It is true that they received substantial concessions, following Sir M MacLehose's visit to London in March. result they accepted the situation, once the problem of including in the Bill a reference to British Nationality was explained to them. But it would be wrong to maintain that the Gibraltar amendment has not made a fundamental difference or that HMG's consistent opposition to the amend- ment would make a concession unnecessary if it is not reversed.

CONFIDENTIAL

/In