TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 57

CONFIDENTIAL

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1

OUR TELNO 139, WHEN REPLYING TO MISS DUNN.

4.

WE CANNOT THEREFORE AGREE TO THE LINE GIVEN IN YOUR TELNO 801. WE WOULD SUGGEST REPLYING ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:

'I WILL CERTAINLY CONVEY LEGCO'S VIEWS TO HMG.

I AM SURE THAT HMG RECOGNISE THE STRENGTH OF FEELING ON

THIS ISSUE IN HONG KONG, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT HMG ARE GIVING THE MATTER PRIORITY. THESE QUESTIONS ARE HOWEVER COMPLEX, AND IT IS RIGHT THAT THEY SHOULD RECEIVE FULL AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. I KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT HOPE TO REACH DECISIONS SHORTLY, BUT I CANNOT SAY AT THIS STAGE WHETHER THIS WILL BE BEFORE EASTER.

HMG'S POLICY HAS BEEN TO GIVE A FULL OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG

KONG PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. THE PASSAGE OF THE ORDER IN

PARLIAMENT WILL PROVIDE A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE CONCERNED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE MATTER.'

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/NTD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

DEP HD/PUSD

PS

PS/R RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

MR BARRINGTON

COPIES TO:

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD

MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE

MR EMERY, B4 DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON

MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE.

ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.

MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE

MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL