TNAG-1557-FCO40-2121-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 39

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HKD.

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SIRW. MARDING"

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HMLNAN 0390 CONFIDENTIAL

DD 10140OZ FCOLN

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FM HOKON TO FCOLN

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CONF NDENT FAL

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TO DESKBY 10140OZ FCO

TELNO 110

OF 10114OZ JANUARY 86

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

ADVANCE COPY

IMMEDIATE

OUR TELSNOS 85 AND 861 NATIONALITY ORDER 4N COUNCIL PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE

1. WE HAVE BEEN GIVING SOME FURTHER THOUGHT TO POSSIBLE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE THREE PARTICULAR PROPOSALS THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MADE IN THEIR LETTER TO MPS.

2. *** GENERAL WE BELIEVE 4T VERY 4MPORTANT THAT HMG SHOULD APPEAR TO BE AS UNDERSTANDING AS POSSIBLE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE UNOFFIC WALS: TO SHOW A WILLINGNESS TO EXAMINE THE PROPOSALS THEY MAVE MADE CONSTRUCTHWELY: AND TO MEET THEM TO THE EXTEND POSSIBLE.

SHOWING

3. THIS MEANS, AS REGARDS THE FREEDOM TO VISIT THE UK, WILLINGNESS BOTH TO ACCEPT THE DEA OF AN ENDORSEMENT IN THE PASSPORT AND MAKING THE RIGHT OF BONAFIDE WISITORS FROM HONG KONG TO ENTER ON VISITS AS UNQUAL PFIED AND UNTRAMMELLED AS POSSIBLE. ON THIS WE AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF MR RENTON'S DISCUSSIONS WITH

MR WADDINGTON.

4. ON THE OTHER TWO 16SUES (EX SERVICEMEN AND MINORITIES) WE WOULD RECOMMEND STRONGLY AGAINST TRYING TO ARGUE THAT THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS PROPOSED ON THE DRAFT ORDER #N COUNCIL WOULD BE AS EFFECTIVE AS FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP, SUCH AN ARGUMENT WOULD CARRY NO CREDIBILITY HERE AT ALL AND IS ON ANY CASE NOT TRUE. WITH BRITISH CITIZENSHIP GOES A NATIONALITY AND A RIGHT OF ABODE GRANTED BY THE SAME STATE, M ADDITION TO A REASONABLE PROSPECT OF RESIDENCE 4 HONG KONG. UNLIKE BNO OR BOC STATUS SUCH CETKZENSHIP CAN BE TRANSMITTED FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER BY THE SIMPLE. EXPEDIENT OF MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN ARE BORN IN BRITAIN. BRITISH CAT:IZENSHIP WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A MEANS OF LEAVING HONG KONG F CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED.

5. THE QUESTION IS THEREFORE THE EXTENT TO WHICH, GIVEN THIS VERY STPONG PLEA FOR RECONSIDERATION MINISTERS AND PARLIAMENT WOULD BE PREPARED TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE MATTERS AGAIN. #T MUST BE THE ESSENCE OF ANY CONSULTATION PROCESS THAT STRONG REPRESENTATIONS MADE DURING THE COURSE OF MT SHOULD BE EXAMINED ON THEIR MERITS.

6. ON THE OTHER HAND WE APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING BLANKET SOLUTIONS WITHOUT MORE #NFORMATION ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS 4NVOLVED. IT MAY WELL BE THAT WITHIN BOTH THESE GROUPS THERE ARE SUB-GROUPS WHICH ARE MORE DESERVING OF SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION THAN OTHERS.