TNAG-1383-FCO40-1831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 37

CONFIDENTIAL

4. I feel we must bring greater clarity of principle to this discussion otherwise, not only will obvious injustice result, but HMG will also surely be made to look rather silly in trying to defend against Parliamentary scrutiny the illogical differentiation that now seems to be emerging in the Home Office mind. Perhaps I should say that the only respect in which I do not entirely agree with Miss Veale is when she concedes that this is a policy matter. It seems to me to be more a question of technical logic. We must continue to argue for a more logical interpretation of the provision in Section 3 of the draft Order. I should hope that Hong Kong will also press for this.

16 July 1985

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D W Partridge

Nationality & Treaty Department

CONFIDENTIAL