TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

Соро

sent

HKK 340|i

RECEIVED IN REMASTAY PO. $1

19 OCT 1981

LORD

PRIVY

SEAL

16/10 to G20

Ps. PSI PUS

Ps

PS Lord Trefyene

Mur Donald

Mi Adlan

NTD

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1

Я

Jos

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PIQUSTRY

PA

Action Taken

22.6

May 23/10

16 October 1981

See (42)

See

(415

(413

(418)

4-30

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL : CITIZENS OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Thank you for your letter of 13 October. I know you will

understand that I am now reverting to this subject only because I

foresee serious problems for our relations with Hong Kong if things

go wrong. I have indeed just received a personal message from the

Governor of Hong Kong which underlines his deep concern over the

attitude of Unofficials there. He believes that some may be considering

resignation on this issue. However, I think that we can deal with the problem without damaging HMG's interests over the Bill.

Let me repeat that I agree that our main objective must be to

defeat the Gibraltar amendment. I understand the difficulties of making

an advance estimate of the mood of the Commons on this subject.

I can

see that it would not now be practicable therefore for the Government

themselves to introduce an amendment which would offer a fall-back to

Hong Kong.

t

However Lord Geddes has put down another amendment on nomenclature

at Third Reading but this time it seems to me that it is not objectionable or damaging to the purpose of the Bill. Apparently he

has been told by Sir Peter Henderson that he cannot put down an amendment,

The Rt Hon William Whitelaw CH MP

Home Secretary

Queen Anne's Gate

London SW1

/as

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