TNAG-2193-FCO40-3130-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 81

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1065

OF 27115OZ MARCH 90

CONFIDENTIAL

6225

126607

MDHIAN 6091

нко 340/4

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 5 MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

INDEX

PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN, AUSS FROM GOVERNOR

UK NATIONALITY SCHEME: PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENT

WHEN MR LLOYD AND LANGDON WERE IN HONG KONG LAST WEEK WE DISCUSSED HOW TO HANDLE THE FACT THAT THE SCHEME WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT IS A SUBSTANTIALLY MODIFIED VERSION OF THE ONE ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED FROM HERE. I UNDERSTAND THAT DONALD TSANG FOLLOWED UP ON THIS IN HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH MRS GRIMSEY WHERE THEY DEALT, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, WITH THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR AS DESCRIBED IN PARA 2 OF SCHEDULE 1, TO THE BILL.

2.

AS I EXPLAINED TO THE HOME OFFICE TEAM LAST WEEK, I HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE WAY THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR IS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE 1. IN PARTICULAR THERE IS SOME RISK THAT THE REFERENCE TO MODIFICATIONS BEING MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE ONLY AFTER CONSULTING THE GOVERNOR COULD GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT ALL MODIFICATIONS MEET HONG KONG'S NEEDS OR WISHES. THIS IS NOT OF COURSE THE CASE. THERE IS A CROSS REFERENCE IMPLICATION HERE TO THE JOINT DECLARATION WHERE WE HOPE THAT REFERENCE TO CONSULTATION WITH THE SAR WILL MEAN ACCEPTING SAR VIEWS, EG. ON AIR SERVICES.

3. I WOULD NOT HOWEVER WISH TO PRESS THIS POINT IF PREPARATION OF THE BILL IS AT AN ADVANCED STAGE AND REVISION DIFFICULT. WHAT MATTERS IS HOW THE CONCEPTION AND BIRTH OF THE SCHEME ARE DESCRIBED BY MINISTERS. I WOULD HOPE THAT, WITHOUT GOING INTO ELABORATE DETAIL, MINISTERS WOULD DESCRIBE THE ACTUAL PROCESS. THIS IS THAT THE SCHEME IS BASED ON OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS, THEIR PROPENSITY TO EMIGRATE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE TO THE CONTINUED BUOYANCY OF HONG KONG. THIS CONCEPT WAS PROPOSED BY HONG KONG. MODIFICATIONS TO THE CATEGORIES COVERED WERE THEM MADE BY MINISTERS.

4. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO SEE IN ADVANCE THE DRAFT OF THE STATEMENT TO BE MADE IN PARLIAMENT. WE ARE LIKELY TO FIND OURSELVES QUESTIONED ON THE DETAIL OF IT VERY SOON AFTER IT IS MADE.

5. SEE MIFT.

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL