TNAG-1385-FCO40-1833-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 152

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TU IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2053

OF 3309502 OCTOBER 25

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1. I have spoken to Mr Johnoow in

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Want who does not foreset difficulties, giver that the white Paper wich have been in the public CONFIDENTIAL&

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parliamentary

YOUR TELNO 1326 : HONG KONG AGREEMENT : NATIONALITY ORDER-IN-COUNCIL.

1. PARA 1 (F) OF OUR TELNO 1742 RECORDED EXCO'S VIEW THAT THE DRAFT ORDER-IN-COUNCIL SHOULD BE DECATED IN LEGCO BEFORE THE FIRST DEBATES ARE HELD IN PARLIAMENT. THIS CLEARLY WILL BE COSENTIAL. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE DEPTH OF FEELING OVER NATIONALITY MATTERS, WE WOULD NOT WISH THE DRAFT ORDER-IN-COUNCIL TO BE THE FIRST SUBJECT OF DEBATE IN THE NEW LEGCO. IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE NEW MEMBERS HAVE MADE THEIR MAIDEN SPEECHES AND OUTLINED THEIR PLATFORMS IN THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.

2. ACCORDINGLY, WE THINK THE EARLIEST FEASIBLE DATE FOR THE DEBATE IN LEGCO ON THE DRAFT ORDER-IN-COUNCIL WOULD BE 27 NOVENDER. THIS WOULD ALSO ALLOW A PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD CONFIRM THAT THE TINETAPLE IN TUR IS STILL VALID AND THAT THERE IS NO LIKELIHOOD OF THE DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT LETNG DROUGHT FORWARD BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER.

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"HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED HD/HKD HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RES D (MR WALKER)

PS

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COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

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CABINET OFFICE

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CONFIDENTIAL