TNAG-1381-FCO40-1829-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 216

CONFIDENTIAL

нск 04014

GR 150

CONFIDENTIAL

DECKRY 070900Z

FM HONG KONG 070716Z JAN 85

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 40 OF 7 JANUARY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

@

по

Ros

ти

YOUR TELNOS 22 AND 23: HONG KONG BILL: NATIONALITY PROVISIONS.

1. THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING MATERIAL IN YOUR SECOND TEL UNDER REF. I HAVE CIRCULATED IT TO EXCO FOR INFORMATION.

2. ON PARA 3 OF YOUR FIRST TEL UNDER REF I AGREE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GIVE UMELCO UNOFFICIALS A CONFIDENTIAL BRIEFING IN ADVANCE OF THE BILL'S PUBLICATION. FOR THIS PURPOSE WE PROPOSE TO TURN THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN YOUR SECOND TEL UNDER REF INTO AN EXPLANATORY NOTE WHICH COULD BE GIVEN TO UNOFFICIALS AND WHICH COULD ALSO BE USED FOR CENERAL PR PURPOSES IN HONG KONG. WE SHALL NEED AS MUCH ADVANCE NOTICE AS POSSIBLE OF THE TIMING OF THE BILL'S PUBLICATION (SEE ALSO MY TELNO 3372 OF 28 DECEMBER), AS WELL AS THE FINAL TEXT OF THE BILL AS APPROVED BY THE CABINET LEGISLATION COMMITTEE.

3. IT WOULD NO DOUBT BE VERY HELPFUL IF I COULD GIVE EXCO TOMORROW (AND, IF POSSIBLE, ALSO TO LEGCO UNOFFICIALS AT THE CONFIDENTIAL BRIEFING) THE INDICATION IN THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARA 3 OF YOUR FIRST TEL UNDER REF. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE ON THE EXACT WORDING DESKBY 090030Z.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HKD

FED

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

CONFIDENTIAL

(13)