TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 191

GRS 500

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 14113OZ FCO

TELNO 146

OF 14104OZ JANUARY 86

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO DESKBY 15010OZ PEKING

нии осно

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 5 JAN 1986

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

ім.

REGISTRY

[Action Takei

90

91

TOP COPY

MY TPT: WHITE PAPER ON DRAFT NATIONALITY ORDER.

1. THE STATEMENT THAT THE UNOFFICIALS WILL NOT BACK DOWN ON THE PROPOSITION THAT AN ENDORSEMENT REGARDING VISA-FREE ENTRY TO THE UK SHOULD BE MADE IN THEIR PASSPORTS MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ON WHAT THE AID THIS MORNING, PROVIDING IT WERE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE CASE MADE FOR THE MINORITIES AND THE EX-SERVICEMEN HAD BEEN EXAMINED ON HTS MERITS, AND THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN A FAIR HEARING (AND NOT SIMPLY TURNED DOWN OUT OF HAND), THERE WOULD BE GRUMBLING, ILL-FEELING AND NO DOUBT SARCASM IN THE PRESS, IF THEY WERE NOT MET IN FULL BUT I DOUBT IF THOSE ISSUES WOULD BECOME MATTERS FOR A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN UNOFFICIALS AND HMG. (PESENTMENT AMONG THE

MINORITIES WOULD OF COURSE REMAIN) IF ON THE OTHER HAND THE UNOFFICIALS REQUEST FOR AN ENDORSEMENT IN THE PASSPORTS IS REFUSED,

A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG

AND HMG WILL ENSUE.

2. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS MORNING'S DISCUSSION IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT

IF MINISTERS ARE REASONABLY POSITIVE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENDORSEMENT BEING MADE IN THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE THE UNOFFICIALS

MAY BE PERSUADED BY THEIR SENIOR MEMBERS (WHO ARE DOING THEIR

UTMOST TO AVOID A CONFRONTATION) TO AWAIT DEVELOPMENTS. IT THERE IS SIMPLY A HOLDING STATEMENT THE UNOFFICIALS MAY DECIDE EITHER TO

SEND A DELEGATION OR TO AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE PARLIMAENTARY

DEBATE AND GO LATER TO PRESS THEIR CASE. IF THE HOLDING STATEMENT

READS NEGATIVELY OR IS ACCOMPANIED ONLY BY A STATEMENT OF

THE DIFFICULTIES OF MAKING THE ENDORSEMENT (AS IN PARA 5 OF YOUP

TELNO 85) THERE IS A REAL CHANCE THAT THEY WILL DECIDE TO VISIT

LONDON AND ASK FOR A MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER: AND MAKE THIS

DECISION PUBLIC.

3. IT REMAINS MY STRONG ADVICE TO MINISTERS THAT THEY SHOULD SHOW

A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN THE DEBATE TOWARDS THE ENDORSEMENT. IF

THEY DO NOT THE RISK OF A CONFRONTATION (SEE PARA 1 ABOVE) IS HIGH.

4. CAN SEE THAT MINISTERS MIGHT BE DISPOSED TO AWAIT THE

OUTCOME OF THE DEBATE, BUT AS UNOFFICIALS POINTED OUT IF THIS DECISION IS NOT TAKEN NOW, AND THE SITUATION IS ALLOWED TO REACH

THE POINT WHERE A DELEGATION IS SENT TO LONDON TO CALL ON THE

PRIME MINISTER THERE WILL BE A POLITICAL PRICE TO BE PAID. IF THE

UNOFFICIALS WERE THEN REBUFFED THE SENSE OF RESENTMENT WILL BE

SEVERE. IF ON THE OTHER HAND IT WERE DECIDED THAT THE P.M. SHOULD

CONCEDE WHAT MINISTERS HAD APPARENTLY NOT FAVOURED AND WHAT COULD

CONFIDENTIAL

/NOT