TNAG-2198-FCO40-3152-Hong-Kong-nationality-spouses-and-widows-of-British-expatria-1990 — Page 210

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 335

OF 12150OZ FEBRUARY 90

INFO ROUTINE BTC HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

нку

(14

134171 MDHOAN 2967

! RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

340/8

12 JUN 1990

DESK OFFICER INDEX

MYSTRY

PA

Action Taken

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

YOUR TELNO 522: UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE: SPOUSES OF EXPATRIATES

1. IT HAD BEEN INTENDED THAT THE LIMITED CONCESSION FOR SPOUSES OF BRITISH EXPATRIATES IN HONG KONG WOULD BE ANNOUNCED EITHER AT THE SAME TIME AS THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE STATEMENT OR BY AN INSPIRED PQ SHORTLY AFTER. BUT THE HOME SECRETARY DECIDED ON REFLECTION TO DELAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL. HE FELT THAT, GIVEN THE STRONG FEELINGS IN THE HOUSE ABOUT THE NATIONALITY SCHEME, IT WOULD BE TACTICALLY UNWISE AT THIS STAGE TO ANNOUNCE WHAT MIGHT BE PERCEIVED AS A NEW IMMIGRATION LOOPHOLE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE ACCEPTED THIS VIEW, ALTHOUGH HE RECOGNISED THAT THE FURTHER DELAY WOULD BE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO EXPATRIATES IN HONG KONG. WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE STRENGTH OF THEIR LOBBY.

2. WE ARE FAXING TO YOU A RECENT LETTER FROM PS/MR MAUDE TO JULIAN WALSH OF THE CONCERNED BRITISH EXPATRIATES' SOCIETY. THIS SETS OUT THE PRESENT POSITION, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE POLICY IS STILL UNDER REVIEW.

HURD

YYYY

MAIN

58

DISTRIBUTION

69

.HK AGREEMENT NATIONALITY

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

HD /NTD

HD/CONSULAR D

PUSD

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/LORD BRABAZON PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

MR BLATHERWICK

MISS SPENCER

PS

ADDITIONAL 11

HK AGREEMENT NATIONALITY.

~~~~

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