TNAG-2198-FCO40-3152-Hong-Kong-nationality-spouses-and-widows-of-British-expatria-1990 — Page 237

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settled here.

4. Had the Home Secretary proceeded with the plan to announce this by means of an inspired PQ on 11 January, there would have been no difficulty. Mr Waddington has however decided to delay an announcement until the second reading of the Hong Kong Bill. His

reason is that he does not wish to draw parliamentary attention at

this stage to a concession to a special category outside the

nationality package.

5. Mr Waddington's concern is understandable, but the Secretary of

State will be in an embarrassing position in Hong Kong unless he is

able to make clear the Government's intentions if asked.

6. The question of the widows of Hong Kong ex-servicemen is de minimis. But it has assumed disproportionate political symbolism in

Hong Kong. After all the political effort we have expended on the

nationality package as a whole, it would make no sense if we were to

fail to cover this group, few if any of whom would be likely to come

to the UK in view of their age. I understand that Home Office

officials had intended to propose this solution to their Ministers,

but have not yet had time to do so.

ARPanc

AR Paul

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