TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 167

CONFIDENTAL

GPS 190

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 123409Z OCT 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 916 OF 12 OCTOBER

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

MIPT

403

TOP COPY

HKK 340/1

ملك

يا

2010

Pips 27/10

FOLLOWING IS TEXT:

! HAVE BEEN ASKED BY ALL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF BOTH THE EXECUTIVE

AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS OF HONG KONG TO EXPRESS THEIR SINCERE

THANKS AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR YOUR AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD PLACE IT BEYOND DOUBT THAT CBDTS REMAIN BRITISH NATIONALS.

2. ONE OF OUR MAIN CONCERNS FROM THE BEGINNING HAS BEEN THAT THE

BRITISH CONNECTION AND STATUS OF CUKCS IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, WHO ALREADY HAVE NO RIGHT OF ENTRY TO AND ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED IN ANY WAY. TO PRESERVE OUR BRITISH CONNECTION AND STATUS WE MAINTAIN THAT THE BRITISH NATIONALITY OF CBDTS SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED IN THE BILL. WE ASK FOR NOTHING

MORE THAN TO PROVIDE UNDER THE LAW THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY HMG

IN THE COURSE OF THE THIRD READING DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

3. IT IS HOPED THAT THE DEPTH OF OUR CONCERN ON THIS POINT CAN BE

BROUGHT HOME THROUGH THE DEBATE AND THAT OUR APPEAL TO REMAIN AND

TO BE SEEN TO REMAIN BRITISH WILL BE TREATED WITH SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

4. WE SEND YOU OUR BEST WISHES FOR YOUR SUCCESSFUL PURSUIT OF OUR

CASE.

A

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

ARGD

NYO

COPIES

MR OR FORD

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

AS

PSILPS

PS/LORD TREF GARNE

Psipus

MR DONALO MR ADAMS

CONFIDENTAL

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT

ADVANCED

404