TNAG-1564-FCO40-2129-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 164

OCMIAN 1450

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 212330Z HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

211745Z APR

GRS 320

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

31450

1

LIMM 3401

RECEIVED IN PEGISTRY

22 APR 1986

FM FCO

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

TO DESKBY 212350Z HONG KONG

INIL

PA

Action Taken

TELNO 717

OF 2117452 APRIL 86

FOLLOWING STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM HUM, HKD

NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL

1.

I AM TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY TO YOU THE TEXT OF THE

PARLIAMENTARY ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE THREE LEGCO REQUESTS, TOGETHER

WITH A LINE TO TAKE WITH EXCO AT TOMORROWS MEETING.

2.

WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SECURE A PRESENTATION

OF OUR DECISION ON ETHNIC MINORITIES WHICH IS AS HELPFUL AS

POSSIBLE IN HONG KONG TERMS. THIS HAS REQUIRED MUCH TOOING AND

FROING WITH THE HOME OFFICE, INCLUDING AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL. WE

HAVE SUCCEEDED IN ELIMINATING ANY REFERENCE WHATSOEVER TO

IMMIGRATION CONSIDERATIONS, BUT THE COST HAS BEEN THAT IN THE

TRADE-OFF WE HAVE SOMETIMES HAD TO SUPPRESS ARGUMENTS WHICH MIGHT

HAVE HELPED INSTEAD TO PRESENT THE DECISION IN ANOTHER CONTEXT.

3.

IF YOU FELT IT WOULD BE ANY HELP IN THE EXCO DISCUSSION,

YOU MAY NONETHELESS WISH TO PUT FORWARD AS YOUR PERSONAL VIEW

THAT ACCEPTANCE OF THE REQUEST ON ETHNIC MINORITIES WOULD HAVE

CAUSED HMG DIFFICULTY IN TERMS OF WIDER NATIONALITY

POLICY GOING BEYOND HONG KONG. IN PARTICULAR:

(A)

TO GRANT BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO THE ETHNIC MINORITIES

WOULD HAVE BEEN WIDELY SEEN AS CONTRARY TO THE INTENTION

OF BNA 1981 THAT SUCH CITIZENSHIP SHOULD REFLECT A CLOSE

1

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