TNAG-2373-FCO40-3448-Hong-Kong-nationality-UK-passport-scheme-British-Nationalit-1991 — Page 71

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 457

OF 08120OZ MARCH 91

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD

340/4

TOP COPY Q DIST!?

03

145122 MDHOAN 9493

MIPT: LETTER FROM THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION

1. BEGINS:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 27 FEBRUARY TO DOUGLAS HURD. I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR CONCERNS TO OUR ATTENTION. WE HAVE CONSULTED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WHO ACCEPT THAT YOU HAVE RAISED ISSUES WHICH MERIT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.

AS I AM SURE YOU WILL KNOW, IT FALLS TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE, APPOINTED UNDERSECTION 3(3)(A) OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) ACT, TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON MATTERS ARISING FROM THE SCHEME AND THIS POTENTIAL ANOMALY WILL NOW BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR VIEWS.

I CAN CERTAINLY CONFIRM THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHEME IS, AS YOU SAY, TO GIVE ASSURANCE TO PERSONS CONSIDERED TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL BEING OF HONG KONG BEFORE 1997 AND INDEED AFTERWARDS. I HOPE YOU WILL BE REASSURED TO LEARN THAT WE AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY INCLUDE BARRISTERS AMONG THOSE ESSENTIAL GROUPS, AND THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT BARRISTERS WILL BE ADEQUATELY CATERED FOR UNDER THE LEGAL PROFESSIONALS GROUP.

ENDS.

HURD

YYYY

1

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