TNAG-1384-FCO40-1832-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 58

Mr W Ehrman

NTY/85 1/387/4

29 August 1985

Sure that the list is exhaustive. But we do not consider this is a good reason for not publishing it. We wish to be as helpful as possible to readers of the White Paper and draft Order. To have a list which is supplied only to certain people or bodies, and is otherwise available only on demand, seems to us unnecessarily secretive and will certainly cause more work in responding to that demand.

We

As to its causing confusion to the lay-person; although the White Paper is indeed intended to give general guidance, it nevertheless presents to the public a detailed technical document, namely the draft Order. suggest that most of the people affected, who fall within one of the "simple" categories in the list (ie birth, registration or naturalisation in Hong Kong)

might more easily identify themselves from the list than from the appropriate bit of Article 2(1), which is inevitably more technically complex. Those who cannot identify themselves from the list or are not sure whether they are included will no doubt seek guidance whether or not the list is published. Apart from anything else, public- ation of a list may help by producing some latent category of person

whom we have missed out.

We therefore remain in favour of publishing the list. But we take Hong Kong's suggestion that the White Paper might contain a caveat to the effect that it may not be exhaustive, and will consider an appropriate form of words.

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J P EMERY

Nationality Division