TNAG-1557-FCO40-2121-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 144

GRS 500 UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKRY 08120OZ FCO

TELNO 78

OF 08100OZ JANUARY 36

INFO DESKBY 090100Z PEKING

36

TOP COPY

HKM 0404 нки

RECEIVED IN PEGISTRY

-

·& JAN 1986

OFFICER

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

37

MISS LYDIA DUMN'S SPEECH MOVING THE MOTION.

BEGINS:

SIP,

PAPER.

I PISE TO MOVE THE MOTION STANDING IN MY NAME ON THE OPDEF

THIS MOTION REFLECTS THE ANXIETIES EXPRESSED IN THIS COUNCIL ON

THE MATTER OF THE WHITE PAPER ON THE DRAFT HONG KONG (BRITISH

NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986.

THE SUBSTANCE OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' VIEWS IS BY NOW WELL KNOWN BOTH HERE IN HONG KONG AND IN WESTMINSTER. I HAVE SENT A LETTEP TO ALL MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PAPLIAMENT, WHICH INCLUDES OF COURSE ALL MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, EXPRESSING OUR DETAILED VIEWS. FOR THE PECORD I AM TABLING A COPY OF THIS LETTER.

TODAY * WISH TO MAKE ONLY TWO POINTS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE VIEWS OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON THIS MATTER ARE UNANIMOUS.

UNANIMITY AMONG MEMBERS IN HISTORIC TIMES OF AN ENTIRELY APPOINTED COUNCIL WAS THE RULE RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION. UNANIMITY AMONG MEMBERS OF AN ENTIRELY ELECTED BODY IS RATE. IN OUR COUNCIL

I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT UNANIMITY IS NEITHER SO RARE AS TO BE ASTONISHING NOR SO COMMON AS TO BE UNREMARKABLE. ON REALLY IMPORTANT

ISSUES THAT AFFECT FUNDAMENTALLY THE LIVES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE WE ARE ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT AMONG A VERY DIVERSE GATHERING OF

PEPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

ON THE MATTER OF NATIONALITY WE ARE UNANIMOUS. OUR VIEWS HAVE RECEIVED COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE THEY WERE PUBLISHED. IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT

TO IGNORE THEM.

THE SECOND POINT I WISH TO MAKE IS THAT THE ACTION WE ASK

SHOULD BE TAKEN IS ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT ALONE AND IF IT IS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY WILL PEST

SOLELY WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

/ THIS