TNAG-2932-FCO40-4207-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 43

HCD 340/1

CONFIDENTIAL,

FROM:

J C Morris

2

1993

Hong Kong Department

A

B

DATE:

こ

25 May 1993

Has seen

CC:

Mr Hum

PS/Mr Goodlad

Lesbrank

Miss Everett, News Dept Mr Morris, NTCD

Gobalad

я ра

epa. 25/5

BRITISH NATIONALITY IN HONG KONG: LEGCO REQUEST FOR DELAY OF REGISTRATION PROGRAMME FOR BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS)

Problem

1. A letter to Mr Goodlad from Mrs Tu, Chairman of the LegCo House Committee, asking that we defer the Order in Council which will introduce a phased programme for registration of

British Nationals (Overseas) (BNOs), in order to allow more

time for LegCo to discuss "alternative measures".

Recommendation

2.

That Mr Goodlad should write to Mrs Tu on the lines of the

attached draft (cleared with the Home Office and HKG).

Background

3.

Mrs Tu's letter alleges that the proposed Order in Council

constitutes "premature deprivation of the right of BDTCS to register for BN (0) status any time before 1 July 1997". She finds this "repugnant in principle". Mrs Barnes Jones' minute

of 12 May outlined these concerns and gave background to the

phased registration programme of BDTCS as BN (0)S.

4. We, the Home Office and Hong Kong agree that it will be impossible, without a phased registration programme, to guarantee that all 3.5 million potential BN (0) applicants will

be able to register before 1 July 1997. We also agree that

sub.legcoreque.NAT

JEB

CONFIDENTIAL

104