TNAG-1562-FCO40-2126-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 49

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E.R.

OTE OF A MEETING HELD ON 18 MARCH 1986

HONG KONG NATIONALITY ORDER

M.

Emery

427

HAM 340/1 нии

RECEIVED

REGISTRY

- 3 APR 1986

Present:

Home Secretary Mr Waddington Lord Glenarthur Mr Hyde

Mr Lyon

Lord Cledwyn Lord Avebury Lord Geddes Lord Maclehose Lord Mishcon

Mr Fittall

23K OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

The meeting had been arranged at the request of Lord Cledwyn to enable him to bring an all party delegation of peers to discuss with the Home Secretary the Hong Kong Nationalty Order.

2. Lord Cledwyn said that there were three issues which they wished to discuss with the Home Secretary; the passport endorsement, the position of ex-servicemen and a possible concession to the non-ethnic Chinese. His understanding was that a solution was now in prospect for the first two issues and he invited the Home Secretary to confirm that this was the case. Great importance was attached to the endorsement issue in Hong Kong and so far as the ex-servicemen were concerned, the case for special treatment was very strong and the numbers involved were small, probably only about 270. The Home Secretary confirmed that the ex-servicemen issue was likely to be resolved satisfactorily. No doubt there would be arguments about the precise definition of the groups which would stand to benefit but it was the least difficult issue of the three which the delegation had mentioned. On the passport endorsement the Home Secretary said that the Government recognised the importance which it had assumed in the Colony and were anxious to come up with a formulation which satisfied the demand without storing up difficulty for future British Governments.

3. In discussion, members of the delegation underlined the importance to Hong Kong people of the ability to travel freely both to the United Kingdom and to third countries. Mr Renton had indicated when in Hong Kong that a passport endorsement would be introduced provided a satisfactory formula could be found. Summing up this part of the discussion the Home Secretary confirmed that the position remained as stated by Mr Renton. The Government were willing to introduce an endorsement but the precise formulation had yet to be settled.

4.

Turning to the position of the non-ethnic Chinese Lord Cledwyn and his colleagues recognised the difficulties of a concession. Nevertheless, they considered that there was an obligation on the Government to respond favourably to the request which had the backing of the legislative and executive councils. Immediately after the signing of the Anglo/Chinese agreement there had been

/much optimism in

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