TNAG-1560-FCO40-2124-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 80

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circulated

For this reason I fear that this

relat

to the briefing document

by the Whip

could rebound against us in

Parliament.

previously

argument

I think our

arguments would need to be based on those already

the pinciples of the need

deployed in Parliament,

Consistency

and on

with the principles of the RNA.

2. I do wonder however if it would not help to give

some more quotable reassurance about the future of the

minorities: as you will recall this was hinted at by more

Cimmons

than one Conservative

on the draft Urder.

back bencher during the last debate

Would i t for instance not be

to amend the urder now in

possible to say that the Government does not consider

that it would be appropriate

such a way as to give British citizenship to the minority

communities, since it believes that the Joint Declaration

is entirely sufficient to safeguard their interests. I f

however at any future stage it appeared that that was not

the case, then the Government considered that a future

government would have to reconsider the possibility very

seriously. This would, i t i s true, virtually commit a

future government to reviewing the position, but it would

not actually commit them

them to taking the action specified.

In this respect I do not think that this would go much

than the assurance which has already

further in substance

been given that in the unlikely event that any BN(O) s

and

BOCs came under

pressure to leave

Hong Kong and had

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