GR 350
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 260855Z OCT 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3320 OF 26 OCTOBER
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
YOUR TELNO 2123: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: LEGISLATION.
HUK040153
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
260CT 1984
DESK OFFICER
PA
1. I WILL CONSULT EXCO AT THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 30 OCTOBER,
ON THE BASIS OF A PAPER ON THE GENERAL LINES OF PARAS 2 TO 7 OF
TEL UNDER REF. I HAVE THOUGHT IT RIGHT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO
COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS FOR DEALING WITH NATIONALITY AND AMEND-
MENTS TO STATUTES AS WELL AS THOSE FOR THE TERMINATION OF SOVEREIG-
NTY IN THE CEDED TERRITORIES.
2. AS REGARDS THE TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY, MEMBERS MAY ASK FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COURSE II IN PARA 2 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REF,
IN PARTICULAR THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE WHICH WOULD BE FOLLOWED
IN RELATION TO A SUBSEQUENT ORDER IN COUNCIL. I SHOULD LIKE TO BE
AS FORTHCOMING AS POSSIBLE IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ON THIS THOUGH
I WILL OF COURSE EXPLAIN CAREFULLY THE REASONS WHICH HAVE LED TO
YOU TO PREFER COURSE I. I SHOULD ACCORDINGLY BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY
FURTHER INFORMATION WHICH YOU CAN SUPPLY, INCLUDING INFORMATION
ON THE RHODESIA PRECEDENT DESKBY 290030Z. I PRESUME THAT UNDER THAT
PROCEDURE THERE WAS NO NEED TO DO MORE THAN INFORM PARLIAMENT
THAT THE ORDER HAD BEEN MADE.
3. MEMBERS ARE ALSO LIKELY TO RAISE THE QEUSTION OF THE TITLE TO
BE USED FOR THE NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY. IF YOU HAVE
REACHED ANY PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS IN THE LIGHT OF THE EARLIER
EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS ON THIS QUESTION, RESTING WITH PEKING TELNO 2650, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW BEFORE THE EXCO MEETING.
ALTERNATIVELY I COULD TELL THE COUNCIL THAT I EXPECT TO HAVE A
PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ON THE MATTER WITH THEM AT ONE OF THE TWO FOLLOWING MEETINGS 1.E. ON 6 OR 13 NOVEMBER. THERE WILL IN ANY
CASE NEED TO BE A MIND CLEARING EXERCISE BEFORE MEMBERS GO TO LONDON IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 3 DECEMBER FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE: NATIONALITY WILL CERTAINLY BE AMONG THE QUESTIONS THEY
WILL WISH TO DISCUSS WITH MINISTERS.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PUSD
HD/PLANNING STAFF
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/HR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
SIR J FREELAND MR BOYD
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT ADVANCED
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
CONFIDENTIAL
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