TNAG-1192-FCO40-1494-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 13

L

COVERING SECRET

(147

1557-B

P

(179)

HKK 340/1

1981

Mr White

PS/Mr Rifkind

PS

But what will be said

about this in Hory,

Hory Kemp!

HHH 34011

沁

a here. Won't it he s presented as a

change of real substance Whatever the reality. How will the Chiese react is that? How will opinim read

in Britain

HONG KONG PASSPORTS: MEMORANDUM TO THE PRIME MINISTER

16

am xz

See (210

We should

1. The attached draft has been agreed with Home Office officials who are putting it to the Home Secretary. wait for Mr Whitelaw's agreement and take his views into account before the memorandum goes to the Prime Minister.

Background

2.

The background is given in Mr Walters' letter of 5 October from the Home Office to Mr Coles at No 10, in Mr. Bone's letter of 11 October to Mr Coles, and in Mr Coles' of 21 October to Mr Walters which was copied to Mr Bone.

3. Much of this ground was covered during the debate on the Nationality Bill in October 1981. Mr Pym might wish an FCO Minister to speak to Lord Geddes, who was at that time the most active proponent of describing BDTCs as British in their passports, in order to ensure as far as possible that the subject is not reopened in the House of Lords.

5

Christopher Howells

8 November 1982

C J Howells

Nationality & Treaty Dept

cc: -

PS/Lord Belstead PS/PUS

Chief Clerk

Lord N Gordon Lennox

Mr Donald

Mr Partridge, MVD

Mr Holmes, CPO

Mr Hyde, Home Office

Mr Addison, Home Office

Mr Pakenham-Walsh, Home Office

Mr Clift, HKGD

Mr Edwards, WIAD

Mr Elliott, FED

Mr Hill, Legal Advisers

COVERING

SECRET