CONFIDENTIAL
57
BE ISSUED IN THE NEW FORM. (HOWEVER EXCO IS NOT YET CONVINCED THAT THE NEW PASSPORTS WILL NEED TO BE ISSUED IN ADVANCE OF 1997).
3. MINISTERS WERE NOT ATTRACTED BY A SECOND HONG KONG BILL. IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THERE WOULD BE LITTLE TO GO INTO IT. THEY ALSO HAD IN MIND THE LIKELY PRESSURE ON PARLIAMENTARY TIME, AND THE DIFICULTY OF MAKING SPACE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME FOR A SECOND BILL.
4. THE HOME SECRETARY ARGUED STRONGLY IN CORRESPONDENCE THAT PARLIAMENT WOULD EXPECT TO KNOW IN OUTLINE, WHEN IT CONSIDERED THE HONG KONG BILL, WHAT CHANGES WOULD NEED TO BE MADE IN THE LAW COVERING BRITISH NATIONALITY. HE TOOK THE VIEW THAT A BILL WHICH CONTAINED NO PROVISIONS ON NATIONALITY WOULD BE STRONGLY CRITICISED IN PARLIAMENT ON THAT ACCOUNT. HOME OFFICE OFFICIALS
CONFIRM THAT THE HOME SECRETARY'S VIEWS ARE UNCHANGED.
>
5. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 5
DECEMBER THAT THE LEGISLATION TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD EARLY NEXT
YEAR WOULD PROVIDE POWERS TO MAKE BEGIN UNDERLINING INTER ALIA END UNDERLINING, CHANGES TO THE LAW, INCLUDING THE NATIONALITY LAW, WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY. SPEAKERS IN BOTH HOUSES NOTED THE
UNDERTAKING AND LOOKED FORWARD TO A FULLER DISCUSSION OF
NATIONALITY ON THAT OCCASSION.
6. EXCO DISCUSSED THE OUTLINE OF THE HONG KONG BILL ON 31 OCTOBER AND A PAPER ON THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO NATIONALITY
LEGISLATION ON 27 NOVEMBER. ON THE LATTER DATE THEY WERE INFORMED THAT INSTRUCTIONS ON THE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION HAD
BEEN APPROVED BY MINISTERS. THEY WERE ALSO TOLD WHAT IT WAS
PROPOSED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD SAY ON NATIONALITY IN
PARLIAMENT. ALTHOUGH DISCUSSION WAS INCONCLUSIVE, ON NEITHER OCCASION DID THEY EXPRESS THE VIEW THAT THE HONG KONG BILL SHOULD NOT CONTAIN ANY NATIONALITY PROVISIONS. NEITHER DID EXCO MEMBERS
2
CONFIDENTIAL
/
RAISE
1
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.