TNAG-2193-FCO40-3130-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 232

15-MAR-1990 17:03

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

08

Os this

+852 521 7058

P.01

布政司署

香港下亞麗舉道

YSR

***M OUR REF :

*EBM YOUR REF :

Mrs E J Grimsey

CONFIDENTIAL

Kicis 340/4

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

23 MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

Immigration and Nationality Department laken

Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY

UK

Dear Liz,

(193)

pa. Ja 23/4

GOVERNMent secRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

Pl-copy to Mr. Sagmar

Mr lage

15 March 1990.

copied.

1913

Mr Paul cc/Mr Fifoot 27/3/ Mr Whomanley √27/3

(See Heron Para 4) Home Office Amisters are

not keen for the steering Group. They wish to keep the. Marcimum distance between the celection process and the Home Secretary, HKG have

a UK representative to serve on

UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE

suggested that the WHING official might be an observer. We see advantage in having some kind of

Thank you for your letter dated 13 March received here by fax on 14 March. I know from our telephone conversation afterwards that you were anxious to have my response to your first point concerning the Steering Group. This letter deals with this point and I shall revert on the other points discussed in your letter in a day or two.

an to

the

Your suggestion that the role of the Steering Group be made clear on the face of the Bill concerns me somewhat. Seen from here, the main reason for having an advisory rather than executive organ is to ensure that the Group will be able operate with the greatest flexibility without fettering discretion of the Governor. in his recommendations to the Secretary of State and without putting it in a straight-jacket by specific provisions in the Bill concerning its purview. This partly explains what might be regarded as a lack of clarity and precision in the terms of reference. The choice of words and phrases having

having wide application in the terms of reference is deliberate. As you well appreciate, we are breaking new ground in many of our proposals in the package. It would be wrong to suggest that we have anticipated all the questions and problems in the design and implementation of the package, particularly those relating to the General Allocation Scheme, and that we have the answers. Much improvisation would be required of the Steering Group as new questions or problems emerge after the package has been launched. For this reason, unless Ministers feel that this is absolutely necessary, I would strongly advise that the Steering Group need not be mentioned in the Bill.

:

1

representatio. Grateful for

your views on whether membership or "Observershing" of the Steering Group would create problems, grands for Judicial Review)

CONFIDENTIAL

M 27/3

(J Morris)

HKD

+852 521 7058 PAGE.001

15 MAR '90 9:57