05-741-1990
11:22 HKGO LONDON 01 495 5033
44 1 495 5033 P.01
203481
ax to: ic, PS/GH, D of Adm
302
From: Commissioner, London
Date: 4 April 1990
LABOUR PARTY
Shadow Cabinet
(Alam (a) Who, Few
e.r.( Alam (ame) HED, Fed
British Nationality (HK) Bill Parliamentary Response
HiCD 34014
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 0 1 JUN 1990
۹م
6/4
Mr Morris
W
It was reported in the NewsDES BEF&ETV) that the Shadow Cabinet had met and decided that they would wote against the Bill during its Second Reading.
2.
At an interview with BBCI TV, Roy Hattersley criticised the Bill as elitist, giving too much discretionary power to the Governor and the Secretary of State to grant British citizenship. The scheme was attacked as being against the principle of justice.
3.
When interviewed by ITV, Hattersley said had the Bill been laid out in greater detail, they could have examined it more carefully and criticised its shortcomings. The way in which the Bill was drafted was 'brief and bad' and offered them no option but to vote against it. (The kind of whip to be used remains to be seen.)
3.
It was also mentioned in another news report that the Shadow Cabinet would not put forward a reasoned amendment.
Parliamentary Labour Party
4.
Response was described as 'split'. ITV interviewed:
(a) Ken Livingstone - who said he could not vote against
the Bill without knowing Labour's alternative;
(b)
Peter Shore - believed offering something is better than nothing.
CONSERVATIVES
5.
The hard core rightwingers are unhappy that the Bill was introduced without debate or a vote. MIFF is a summary of the exchanges which took place in the House this afternoon.
6.
At an ITV interview, Tony Marlow said it would reflect poorly on the Prime Minister's power of judgement if she chose not to listen to their opinion against the Bill and still insisted that her obligation towards HK people was greater than that towards the British people.
7.
David Waddington, Home Secretary delivered a warning
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.