TNAG-1567-FCO40-2132-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 154

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 25110OZ FCO

TELNO 1241

OF 25O9OOZ APRIL 86

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING

:

NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL : UNOFFICIALS' REACTION

WE UNDERSTAND THAT, AT THE WEEKLY IN-HOUSE MEETING OF UMELCO

THIS AFTERNOON, UNOFFICIALS DECIDED AGAINST SENDING A DELEGATION

TO THE UK ON THE MINORITIES' REQUEST. WE WERE INFORMED THAT

SIR S.Y. CHUNG WAS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS COURSE OF ACTION

ON THE GROUND THAT IT WOULD BE 'COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE AND EMBARRASSING'

ALTHOUGH THIS DECISION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A SHORT PRESS STATEMENT

ISSUED BY UMELCO AFTER THE MEETING, UNOFFICIALS WOULD REPLY

FACTUALLY IN RESPONSE TO ENQUIRIES.

2. TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT IS IN MIFT.

YOUDE

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

MF NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE

ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.

MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV. HOME OFFICE MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISÉRS

CONFIDENTIAL

B