GRS 350
CONFIDENT FAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TO DESKBY 03103NZ FCO
TELNO 19
OF 030945Z JANUARY 86
INFO DESKBY 03103OZ PEKING
TOP COPY
HKM 040/4 ник
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
JO
7 JAN 1986
RECICIRY-
DESK OFFICER
4
INDEX
PA
Action taken
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR WILSON, AUS ASTA FROM GOVERNOR
Oud 28 (375) 1985
YOUR TELNO 2047 AND MIPT : NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL : ENDORSEMENTS IN BH(0) PASSPORTS
1.
SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJOR ROW DEVELOPING BETWEEN HONG KONG AND LONDON ON THESE ISSUES. WE HAVE SO FAP HAD A NEGATIVE REACTION FROM LONDON ON EVERY PROPOSAL FOR AMELIORATION ADVANCED FROM HONG KONG. THERE SEEMS TO BE INSUFFICIENT UNDERSTANDING IN LONDON OF THE PERSISTENCE AND DEGREE OF THE DOUBTS HERE ON WHETHER THE BN (0) PASSPORT WILL BE OF PRACTICAL USE. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SEE A NEED FOR HMG TO GIVE A CLEAR SIGNAL TO THIRD COUNTRIES THAT THE BN(0) PASSPORT IS A PASSPORT IN WHICH THEY CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN GRANTING VISA-FREE FACILITIES SEMICOLON AND THEY SEE THIS SIGNAL BEING GIVEN BY HMG AGREEING THAT AN APPROPRIATE ENDORESEMENT BE PUT IN THE PASSPORT IN RESPECT OF ENTRY TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. WHATEVER THE TECHNICAL ARGUMENTS, THIS IS NOW SEEN AS A TEST OF THE UK'S INTENTIONS TOWARDS BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS.
2. BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS SO EMOTIVE HERE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EXCO SHOULD BE TOLD ON JANUARY 7 WHAT ATTITUDE #MISTEPS INTEND TO TAKE IN THE DEBATE ON JANUARY 16. IF THIS IS NOT DIVULGED TO THEM UNTIL THE DEBATE ITSELF, OR JUST BEFORE, THERE WILL BE A RECUPPENCE OF ACCUSATIONS WHICH AROSE DURING THE NATIONALITY ACT DERATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS THAT THEY WERE KEPT IN THE DARK UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE FOR THEM TO MOUNT A FULL SCALE LOBBYING EFFORT FOR WHAT THEY THOUGHT HONG KONG DESERVED. IF NO ATTEMPT IS MADE TO MEET THE CONCERNS OF LEGCO MEMBERS ON THE BN(0) PASSPORT AND THEY ARE TURNED DOWN FLAT THEN THIS IS BOUND TO FUEL GROWING SUSPICIONS THAT HMG ARE GPADIJALLY WASHING THEIR HANDS OF HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL
/3.
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