TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 184

CONFIDENTIAL

direct link with Hon Kong, I can confirm that it is the

Government' S intention that its form

persons who come within the scope of

should be held only by

the Order

nationality that will be made under this Bill.

[ IF ASKED WHETHER TITLE WILL BE INCLUDED IN BILL]

in Council

ог

The Government will give consideration to this point. There

will be opportunities for including the title in the Bill at a

later stage if it is considered appropriate.

[DEFENS IVE)

WHY INCLUDE NATIONALITY PROVISIONS IN THE BILL?

the

HMG believe that it is necessary to set out in the Bill the

framework of the legislation necessary to implement the

nationality provisions in the UK Memorandum associated with the

agreement. Although the Memorandum is technically not part of

agreement, HMG consider it to represent an undertaking that

they are committed to carrying out. We believe that both Parliament and the Hong Kong people would expect to be told, in

the context of the Hong Kong Bill, how this will be done. Such

explanation would help

would help to dispel any remaining uncertainty there might be about the implications of the Memorandum.

Silence on this point would perpetuate uncertainty and might

doubt on HMG's willingness to implement the

provisions in the Memorandum.

an

that

even cast

DETAILS OF THE ORDER IN COUNCIL?

No date has yet been fixed for the making

making of the Order in

Council. It will contain a number of detailed provisions that

will have to be carefully considered

Hong Kong Government.

WHY IS THE ORDER IN COUNCIL NECESSARY?

CONFIDENTIAL

in conjunction with the

WHY NO MORE DETAILS IN