1
CONFIDENTIAL
4.
(iii) If things go wrong which we do not expect
-
and ethnic minorities are pressed to
leave
Hong Kong, right way for future government to discharge continuing moral responsibility
would be to allow those concerned to settle
in UK, acquire citizenship after qualifying
period in normal way, not give British
citizenship in advance, which would be
contrary to "close connection" principle of
British Nationality Act 1981.
Important to get Order in place.
It is the mechanism
by which we implement the nationality provisions of the Hong Kong Act and the UK Memorandum associated with the
Joint Declaration.
5. Lord MacLehose, in conversation with FCO officials,
seems disposed to be helpful over the Government's decision, despite his earlier support for all three LegCo
proposals.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.