TNAG-2190-FCO40-3127-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 14

From the Private Secretary

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

Mr Pant, HKD

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PS

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10 DOWNING STREET

LONDON SWIA 2AA

HKD 34014

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1 1 APR 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

"PS/Arhande

The Gillmore

M Meloven

Mr lickington M Yeo MP

28 February 1990

2

124

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HONG KONG

The Prime Minister had a meeting this afternoon with Mr. Norman Tebbit, M.P., Mr. John Butcher, M.P., and Mr. Bowen Wells, M.P., at their request, to discuss Hong Kong.

He

Mr. Butcher spoke of unhappiness in all sections of the Conservative Party about the Government's intention to legislate to grant British citizenship to 225,000 Hong Kong Chinese. handed over the text (enclosed) of what he described as a private letter to the Prime Minister which had already attracted 81 signatures of those who were unable to support the legislation (you will notice that no names are appended). The signatories believed that Section 4 (5) of the British Nationality Act 1981 already provided scope to give right of abode to those in Hong Kong who had rendered particular service to the Government. Legislation to confer citizenship would simply raise the political temperature. He emphasised that he and his colleagues did not wish to take an unconstructive or negative approach.

Mr. Bowen Wells spoke to his recent letter to the Foreign Secretary. The signatories took the view that the Government's proposals would not actually achieve their purpose. Far from restoring confidence in Hong Kong, they would make even more people worry about the future. And they would suggest that the

British Government itself did not have faith in the Joint Declaration.

Mr. Norman Tebbit said that he was particularly concerned about the effect of the proposed Bill on a number of critical seats for the Conservative Party in the North West and the Midlands, and perhaps also in London. The legislation would be particularly badly received by the Asian community, which would not understand why it was necessary to give priority to people from Hong Kong. There was also a risk that the Government would lose the support of C and D voters. In his judgement, the Government would be defeated in the House if the Labour Party were whipped to vote against the Bill.

The Prime Minister said that she regarded the offer of citizenship as a matter of straight moral duty in two respects:

CONFIDENTIAL

AND PERSONAL