TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 239

CONFIDENTIAL

We thought it right that

it right that the Bill should contain a clear

indication of the Government's

the Government's intentions with regard to nationality, and set out a framework for the subsequent

delegated legislation that will be necessary.

To do otherwise would perpetuate uncertainty in Hong kong and might lead

doubts

to the Government's

implement the provisions of the UK

sure that Hon members would agree that

this would be most undesirable.

to

unwillingness to

memorandum.

I am

as

on

It may be helpful if I explain why we have not tried in

this Bill to include full and final provisions

nationality. The main reason

is that the agreement set

a time

limit for ratification of 30 June 1985: the Bill

must have passed through both Houses in time for that to

take place.

It therefore had to be introduced

immediately after the signature had taken place. This

left insufficient time for the necessary discussion of

details of the nationality provisions to take place in

Hong Kong. Although the agreement lays down the main

lines of what

considerable

drafting

is necessary,

amount of dec

there

to be

the

is

still a

considered when

legislation.

AT