TNAG-1381-FCO40-1829-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 230

CONFIDENTIAL

4. 1 APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTIES IN WHICH SUCH A DECISION WOULD

PLACE MINISTERS, BUT I MUST ADVISE VERY STRONGLY AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO FORCE AN UNPALATABLE TITLE ON UNOFFICIALS. THERE IS A

REAL RISK THAT IF THE TITLE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THEM UMELCO WILL LOBBY PUBLICLY BOTH HERE AND IN THE UK AGAINST IT, WHICH COULD

SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLICATE THE DEBATE ON THE HONG KONG BILL.

5. IF THE QUESTION ARISES IN PARLIAMENT OF THE MEANING OF THE TERM ''APPROPRIATE STATUS'' I SUGGEST MINISTERS COULD THEN TAKE

•

THE LINE THAT IT WILL BE A FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY: THAT IT WOULD

BE IDENTICAL TO BDTC EXCEPT IN NAME AND EXCEPT FOR TRANSMISSIBILITY:

BUT THAT THE TITLE WILL REQUIRE A WIDER DEGREE OF CONSULTATION IN

HONG KONG THAN CAN BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE DEBATE ON THE BILL.

6. IF THERE IS NOT A CLEAR CONCENSUS IN EXCO THE QUESTION WILL ARISE OF WHETHER I SHOULD EXTEND THE CONSULTATION ON THE TITLE TO THE WIDER FORUM OF UMELCO. SUCH CONSULTATION COULD BE OF VALUE IN ANY CASE SINCE WE MUST NOT FIX ON A TITLE WHICH WILL NOT ACHIEVE

GENERAL ACCEPTANCE HERE.

7. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AGREEMENT DESKBY 05010OZ THAT:

(A) I SHOULD PROCEED AS IN PARA 2 ABOVE: AND

(3) IN THE LIKELY EVENT OF EXCO BEING UNWILLING TO COME TO A CONCLUSION, I SHOULD AGREE THAT THE ISSUE WILL NEED FURTHER

CONSIDERATION.

YOUDE

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 SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST

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