TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 172

E.R.

CONFIDENTIAL

5. The second point was whether more could be said to reassure the ethnic minorities about their future security. In discussion it was agreed that a delicate balance had to be struck between reassuring the ethnic minorities and giving the impression that the Government had no confidence in the Joint Declaration. Ministers had already made clear that if British nationals were left with nowhere to go, the Government of the day would be expected

to consider sympathetically whether to admit them to this country on a case by case basis.

However, it was quite a different matter to go further and suggest that nationality law might be amended in future to grant British citizenship to the ethnic minorities. Mr Waddington was content that the existing line should be worked up, but not that anything should be said about amending nationality law. It was agreed that this and the previous point would require further consideration when the debate speech was being drafted.

cc PS/Mr Renton

Mr Fittall

Mr Woodland

Mr Hyde

Mr Phillips

Mr Pakenham-Walsh

Mr Holmes

Mr Fries

Mr Lyon

Mr Acton Mr Bickham

Снивает

CCR HUDSON

Private Secretary

27 February 1986

CONFIDENTIAL