CONFIDENTIAL
2557 - 1
ATTRACTION IN THE USE OF BOC FOR DRAFTING THE ORDER IN COUNCIL. ON THE OTHER HAND WE SEE CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES AHEAD IF
THIS WAS TO BE EXCO'S CHOICE:
A)
ALTHOUGH THE UK MEMORANDUM SIMPLY REFERS TO AN APPROPRIATE STATUS' OUR EXPLANATION IN THE WHITE PAPER AND ELSEWHERE
(INCLUDING THE PRESENT DRAFT OF THE BILL) HAS EXPLICITLY BEEN IN TERMS OF A NEW STATUS. THE IMPLICATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN
THAT A NEW STATUS WOULD BE CREATED.
B) WE HAVE REACHED A PRELIMINARY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE
THAT THE NATIONALITY STATUS TO BE GRANTED FOR THE AVOIDANCE
OF STATELESSNESS CANNOT BE THE 'NEW' STATUS, BUT THAT BOC
STATUS MIGHT BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE.
OUR PRELIMINARY VIEW (ON WHICH PEKING MAY WISH TO COMMENT) IS HOWEVER THAT THESE DIFFICULTIES NEED NOT BE INSUPERABLE, AND WE
DO NOT THINK THAT YOU NEED ALLUDE TO THEM IN DISCUSSION.
PARTICULARLY SINCE WE THINK IT UNLIKELY THAT EXCO WILL PLUMP FOR
THIS TITLE.
3. WE HAVE OURSELVES CONSIDERED AT LENGTH WITH THE HOME OFFICE
WHETHER ANY FURTHER TITLES CAN BE DREAMI UP WHICH WOULD MEET
CHINESE AND HONG KONG REQUIREMENTS AS WELLAS OUR OWN
WE CAN THINK OF NONE. WE HOPE YOU WILL
BE ABLE TO LEAVE EXCO IN NO DOUBT THAT IN OUR VIEW
THE SCOPE FOR FURTHER INVENTIVENESS BEYOND THE TITLES NOW ON THE
TABLE, IS VERY LIMITED INDEED.
4.
YOUR TUR, AS RECEIVED HERE, DID NOT CONTAIN A SUB-PARAGRAPH
2(IV). WAS THIS AN OMISSION OR AN ERROR IN NUMBERING?
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
2 CONFIDENTIAL
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