GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 17090OZ FCO
TELNO 801
OF 15034OZ MARCH 86
CONFIDENTIAL
ним осон 04014
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 MAR 1986
349
DESK-OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDE..
PA
Action Taken
FOLLOWING FOR LAYDEN, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM GOVERNOR.
349
YOUR TELNO 481 : NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL
1. AS PREDICTED THE MEMBERS OF LEGCO ARE MUCH CONERNED ABOUT
THE CONTINUING SILENCE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ABOUT THE NATIONALVITÝ ·
ORDER IN COUNCIL. SOME WERE ASKING FOR ANOTHER DEBATE BEFORE THE
LEGCO EASTER RECESSION. IT WAS EVENTUALLY AGREED THAT MISS DUNN
SHOULD ASK FOR A STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT ON THE POSITION
ON WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH. THE LINE 'N PARA 2 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REFERENCE
KS ALRIGHT AS FAR AS IT GOES BUT IT DOES NOT TELL THEM ANY MORE
THAN THEY ALREADY KNOW. I TRIED IT ON MISS DUNN WHO THOUGHT THAT
IT WOULD BE READ AS STONEWALLING, AND SHE ASKED WHETHER IT COULD
NOT BE MADE MORE POSITIVE. THERE IS ALSO APPARENTLY A PARTICULAR
CONCERN AMONG MEMBERS THAT THEY MAY BE FACED WITH A FART ACCOMPLIE,
E. THAT THE NEW ORDER WILL BE LAND AND DEBATED WITHOUT THEIR BEING
GIVEN A CHANCE TO COMMENT.
2. WILL LEARN MORE OF THE INTENTIONS OF THE UNOFFICIALS ON MONDAY
BUT, SUBJECT TO THAT, COULD WE NOT EXPAND THE STATEMENT TO READ:
**HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ARE COMMITTED TO CONSIDERING THE
POINTS RAISED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND OTHERS IN HONG KONG
GVERY CAREFULLY. THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT PROVIDING A SATISFACTORY
FORMULA CAN BE FOUND IN CONNECTION WITH THE QUESTION OF THE ENDORSEMENT, THEY WILL AGREE TO THE POSITION BEING MADE CLEAR IN
THE PASSPORT: AND THAT THE OTHER QUESTIONS ARE BEING SERIOUSLY
CONSIDERED. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY AT THIS STAGE WHEN THE ORDER
WILL BE MADE BUT H.M. GOVERNMENT HOPE TO REACH A DECISION SHORTLY.
THERE WILL OF COURSE BE A PERIOD BETWEEN THE LAY:ING OF THE ORDER AND
THE DEBATE ON IT DURING WHICH IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE
CONCERNED TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN ON THE ORDER.
# CAN TELL MEMBERS THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE ORDER WILL BE
CONFIDENTIAL
I LAID
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