TNAG-1557-FCO40-2121-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 173

4. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ACCEPTED THIS MORNING THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO BRING THE VIEW TAKEN BY MINISTERS BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW AFTERNOON. BUT #F THE REPLY IS TO BE

NEGATIVE THEY WILL NEED TO INDICATE THIS TO THEIR COLLEAGUES IN LEGCO WELL BEFORE THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE SINCE THIS MAY LEAD TO

WISHING TO AMEND THEIR DECISION NOT TO LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN LONDON.

5. AS REGARDS THE SECOND POINT IN YOUR TELNO 27 AGAIN THINGS HAVE MOVED ON AS A RESULT OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS ON THE DPAFT ORDER. THE POSITION NOW IS THAT LEGCO AND EXCO UNOFFICIALS HAVE UNANIMOU- SLY TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THE COURSE OF ACTION THEY HAVE PROPOSED

WOULD NOT BE DIVISIVE. THEY HAVE TAKEN THEIR OWN SOUNDINGS AND

WE COULD SCARCELY THEREFORE MAINTAIN THE VIEW THAT IT WOULD BE.

6. WE ALSO FIND THE ASSERTIONS IN PARA 3 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REFERENCE DEBATABLE. TO THE LAYMAN, AT LEAST, THE CHINESE NATIONALITY LAW IS UNDOUBTEDLY BASED ON ETHNIC PRINCIPLES AND IT IS AS MUCH FROM

THIS AS FROM THE OTHER DIFFICULTIES THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE

MINORITIES HERE ARISES.

7. I THINK THAT EXCO MEMBERS WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE IDEA THAT

OFFICIALS SHOULD EXPRESS OTHER THAN UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR THE

XOTION. TO MEET YOUR CONCEPNS HOWEVER THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S SPEECH

WILL REFER TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WILL REQUIRE FOR THE

DISCUSSION. (SEE MY TELNO 55)

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/NTD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

DEP HD/PUSD

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

w

COPIES TO :

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD

MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE

MR EMERY, BL DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON

MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE,

ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.

MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL

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