TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 97

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 200850Z OCT 81

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 948 OF 20 OCTOBER

PERSONAL FOR LORD PRIVY SEAL FROM GOVERNOR

YOUR TELNO 803: NATIONALITY BILL

HITK 340 ||

HIに

?

DER O INDEX

us i f210 | ram 23/10

Sea 438

PUBLIC.

1. GOOD. I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION.

2. THE AMENDMENT CUTS LITTLE ICE WITH SOME OF THE HARD LINERS

IN UMELCO, BUT I AM CONVINCED IT WILL HELP WITH THE GENERAL

IT WILL ALSO GIVE US A PEG ON WHICH TO HANG ANY STATEMENTS TO THE

PRESS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY.

3. THE EFFECT OF THIS SMALL CONCESSION COULD BE CONSIDERABLY INCREASED BY THE TERMS IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SUPPORTS THE AMENDMENT. HE SHOULD SHOW SYMPATHY FOR THE UNEASE AND UNCERTAINTY CREATED BY THE CHANGE OF CITIZENSHIP, EMPHASISE THAT IN

SPITE OF THE FACT THAT NO LEGAL OR PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE INVOLVED SUCH UNEASE IS UNDERSTANDABLE, AND EMPHASISE THAT HE EXPECTS PEOPLE IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WILL BE REASSURED ONCE THEY FIND THAT IN PRACTICE THEIR INTERESTS ARE NOT AFFECTED.

4. UMELCO MEMBERS ARE NOW MUCH CALMER (AND PERHAPS A LITTLE

CHASTENED) AFTER THE EXPLOSION LAST WEEK.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITE>

HIC.GO не

NZD

15

PS/LORD TREFCARNE

کی ہے میر کاری کر

TO DONALD

TAJAT5

Comes To

че кола

HONG KONG GOUT offree

CONFIDENTIAL