TNAG-1191-FCO40-1493-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 114

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FM HONG KONG 8498522 OCTOBER 82

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1111 OF 34 OCTOBER

NO

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (PERSONAL FOR SIR JACK CATER)

BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT

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NOMENCLATURE IN PASSPORTS

NTPB

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EXCO CONSIDERED THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 AND THE BNA (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 1982 ON 30 SEPTEMBER. AS I FORECAST WHEN I SAW LORD BELSTEAD AT THE END OF JULY, THEY DID NOT GET AN UNTROUBLED RECEPTION. UNOFFICIALS WERE NOT PREPARED TO ADVISE THAT THEY SHOULD BE PUBLISHED AND INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHILST THE QUESTION OF NOMENCLATURE IN PASSPORTS REMAINED UNRESOLVED. THEY ARGUED THAT, TO DO SO, WOULD RESULT IN THEIR LOSING THEIR CREDIBILITY. FURTHER, SOME UNOFFICIALS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE BILLS AT THIS JUNCTURE.

2. APART FROM THEIR CONTINUING CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE BNA GENERALLY, UNOFFICIALS IN EXCO HAD VERY MUCH IN MIND THE PM'S PUBLIC STATEMENT (REPORTED IN MY TELNO 1089) THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM OVER PASSPORTS WHICH SHE WOULD LOOK INTO WHEN SHE RETURNED, AND HER INTERVIEW WITH THE BBC, (REPORTED IN MY TELNO 1096), IN WHICH SHE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS'

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3. WHILST I RECOGNISE THE NEED TO ENACT LEGISLATION HERE BY 31 DECEMBER, IT WILL BE NECESSARY FIRST TO GET A DECISION ON NOMENCLATURE TO SECURE THE SUPPORT OF UNOFFICIALS IN BOTH COUNCILS. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL, THEREFORE, IF I COULD HAVE AS EARLY A DECISION AS POSSIBLE. IF IT IS NOT ENCOURAGING I FORESEE DIFFICULTY IN GETTING AGREEMENT TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LEGISLATION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, LET ALONE GETTING IT PASSED.

Mr. Heave

Rr. meal

Hlu

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