TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 185

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CONFIDENTIAL

BILL?

HMG are committed to ratifying the agreement

June before 30

1985. The Bill must be enacted by parliament before this. It is not possible in this short time to consider and put forward

for debate all the detailed amendments to nationality

legislation that will be required. For this reason the Bill

only contains an enabling power for

subsequent Order ог

Orders in Council in which these amendments will be made.

STATELESSNESS

My Rt hon and learned Friend

this area.

It is our

Friend stated clearly our intentions in

intention that no British national, nor

any child born on ог after 1 July 1997 to a British national,

should be made stateless as a result of the arrangements

envisaged in the Bill. It is intended that such persons should acquire British Overseas Citizenship.

HMG DOING TOO MUCH FOR HONG KONG?

Many Hong Kong people attach very great importance to being eligible to retain their British

national status.

Clear

as sur ances have already been provided on this point in the UK Memorandum. This represents a political commitment which HMG

are bound to uphold.

INCLUDE IN BILL EXPLICIT STATEMENT OF NO RIGHT OF ABODE IN UK?

This is quite unnecessary. The UK Memorandum makes it clear that the new form of nationality will not carry with it the right of abode in the UK. To include this in legislation would

be taken as

Moreover, a gratuitous insult in Hong Kong.

the

in the Bill as drafted could not subsequently be used to

powers

CONFIDENTIAL