TNAG-1381-FCO40-1829-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 229

GRS 600

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY FCO 04O9OOZ

FM HONG KONG 04073OZ JAN 85

€

CONFIDENTIAL,

Han

04.0/4

посівни

и

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 25 OF 4 JANUARY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MY TELNO 18: HONG KONG AGREEMENT : NEW NATIONALITY TITLE.

1. IN THE LIGHT OF EXCO'S REACTION REPORTED IN MY TUR, I DOUBT VERY MUCH WHETHER THE TITLE BRITISH NATIONAL SPECIAL STATUS'

• WILL

IN THE EVENT BE ACCEPTABLE TO THEM. IT MIGHT STILL BE THAT, AFTER THEY HAVE REFLECTED ON IT OVER THE WEEKEND, UNOFFICIALS WILL SEE THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSAL, BUT I AM NOT HOPEFUL.

2. I PROPOSE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION IN EXCO ON 8 JANUARY ON THE BASIS THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD INVITE MINISTERS TO AUTHORISE PEKING TO GO INTO BAT WITH THE CHINESE ON:

EITHER (A) ''BRITISH NATIONAL : SPECIAL STATUS:

OR

(B) BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN'

OR IF THE COUNCIL CANNOT AGREE ON ONE OF THESE IT SHOULD PROPOSE FOR CONSIDERATION SOME OTHER TITLE WHICH MEETS THE FOLLOWING

CRITERIA:

(1) MAKES CLEAR THAT THE STATUS IS A FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY:

1

(11) DOES NOT LINK THE NAME HONG KONG WITH BRITISH NATIONALITY:

(111) WOULD NOT IMPLY THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK OR IN ANY OTHER BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY:

(V) WOULD NOT GIVE ANY GROUNDS FOR IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS IN THIRD COUNTRIES TO MAKE DIFFICULTIES FOR ITS HOLDERS : AND

(VI) CAN BE USED BEFORE AS WELL AS AFTER 1997.

3. IT WILL, I THINK, BE VERY DIFFICULT TO COME UP WITH ANY NEW FORMULATION THAT WOULD MEET ALL THE CRITERIA IN PARA 2 ABOVE. AT THE SAME TIME, ON THE EXPERIENCE OF YESTERDAY'S DISCUSSION THERE IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO BE STRONG RESISTANCE TO BN:SS AND BOC. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE VIEW THAT UNOFFICIALS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY TAKE (BEARING IN MIND THEIR VIEWS ON NOT INCLUDING THE NATIONALITY PROVISIONS IN THE HONG KONG BILL, AND SIR S Y CHUNG'S VIEWS REPORTED IN THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARA 2 OF MY TUR) IS THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO COME TO AN IMMEDIATE DECISION, AND THAT THE QUESTION SHOULD BE LEFT FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND CONSULTATION.

CONFIDENTIAL

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