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CONFIDENTIAL
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4.
On our treatment of Hong Kong civil servants the draft notes
the qualifications placed on the record when the relevant provision
was introduced into the British Nationality Bill. (The terms used
have been agreed by the Home Secretary.) But it goes on to recall
the statement made in Parliament in December 1984 signalling that
special arrangements on admission were being made for those in sensitive positions in Hong Kong. Curiously this statement,
although firmly on the public record, has never aroused any interest
either here or in Hong Kong. Its reiteration is bound now to lead
to questions, particularly in Hong Kong, about the nature of the
undertakings given and the identity of the recipients. We must obviously refuse to be drawn. I have discussed the point with the
Governor: we are both clear in our minds that the importance of
demonstrating publicly that we have made proper arrangements for servants of the Crown in Hong Kong outweighs the disadvantages of
drawing public attention to the existence of undertakings. I have
also consulted the Home Office. At official level they are
content: they are consulting Mr Renton overnight, and his Private
Office will tell you in the unlikely event that he is unhappy with what is proposed.
5.
On the development of representative government, the draft
concentrates on correcting the factual errors and setting the record
straight on the reviews of 1984 and 1987.
CONF IDENTIAL
cortun
CO Hum
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