TNAG-2628-FCO40-3819-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1992 — Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL

02/051

MDHOAN.918

YOU

WE AND HOME OFFICE OFFICIALS WILL DISCUSS THE WAY FORWARD. WILL WISH TO BEAR IN MIND HOWEVER THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW ORDER-IN-COUNCIL MAY BE COMPLICATED AND TIME CONSUMING. NOR CAN WE PREDICT, THIS SIDE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WILL BE FOR THE COMING YEAR, SO IT MAY BE SOME TIME BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS AMENDMENT. MEANWHILE, YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER AN EARLY ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, RESTRICTED TO GENERAL WARNINGS TO THOSE INTERESTED IN RETAINING A FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY AFTER 1997, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF APPLYING IN GOOD TIME. WE THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER AT THIS STAGE TO AVOID ANY REFERENCE TO THE ANTICIPATED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND TO AVOID REFERRING TO UNOFFICIAL CUT-OFF DATES, UNTIL WE HAVE DECIDED ON THE DATES OF AN AMENDING ORDER CAND INDEED THE ORDER MAY NEED TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE DATES ARE ANNOUNCED). TWO LOTS OF DATES WOULD LEAD TO CONFUSION.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

56

DISTRIBUTION

56

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

HKD

PUSD

FED//HD

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

.AND MS BROOKS

NEWS D

PLANNERS

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

NNNN

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