Mr Galsworthy, HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
30 JAN 1985
42
40
Hong Kong Bill: Second Reading Debate: Nationality
on Take:l
The Secretary of State has seen Hong Kong telno 120 of
15 January about the discussion in EXCO of the new nationality title. He has also noted Mr Enoch Powell's motion on yesterday's Order Paper opposing the second reading because the Bill proposed to deal with the nationality question by order-in-counsel.
He agreed with the point made by Miss Tam and others at EXCO that when the new nationality title was announced, it would be important to explain the rights and privileges attached to it. He believes that he should cover the rights and privileges in his second reading debate speech (you may well already have a passage on it in the draft). On the question of the order-in-counsel, Mr Donald Thompson MP (the Overseas Whip) telephoned me this morning to say that he understood a draft order-in-counsel was now almost complete in the Home Office; that one of the Government's speeches in the second reading debate should refer to its existence and the fact that it would be laid shortly in the Library of the House; and explain that it would be subject to affirmative resolution of the House. The Whips believe that this will correct any tendency to sympathise with Mr Powell's point on the Government side. You are no doubt in touch with the Home Office about a suitable passage for inclusion in the Secretary of State's speech.
16 January 1985
cc: PS/Mr Luce
PS/PUS
Dr Wilson Legal Advisers
Maclatts
keletts
(P F Ricketts)
CONFIDENTIAL
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