TNAG-2932-FCO40-4207-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 54

HKD 3401

2 1 MA. 1993

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:

J C Morris

Hong Kong Department

DATE:

19 May 1993

CC:

PS/PUS

に

98

19 ihm. 1993

INDE

Mr Hum

(side copy)

PS/Mr Goodlad

Sir J Coles

Ms Everett, News Dept

Miss Brooks, Legal Advisers PRU

I this a late from

met Wardle is agerovnaté

As

215.

Minister

HONG KONG:

REGISTRATION OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS (BDTCS) AS BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS) (BNOs)

1.

was

today

Mr Llewellyn has telephoned PS/Mr Goodlad and me to register the Governor's concern that the registration of BN (0)s risks becoming controversial in UK political terms. I spoke earlier to Mr Ricketts who made the same point, and recommended at the Governor's request, that Mr Goodlad might telephone Mr Wardle to warn him of the risk and to ask whether there was scope for defusing LegCo's concern by permitting the issue of post-dated BN (0) passports to come into effect on 1 July 1997. If this were done Hong Kong people would be able to retain their BDTC passports until the very last minute. This would satisfy their real concern and they would then not object to legally enforceable cut-off dates. I submit a draft speaking note for this purpose.

2.

Separately, PS/Mr Goodlad agreed that someone from this Department should speak to Mr Cunningham's office to attempt to counter any misapprehensions engendered by the scheduled call by Frederick Fung and his team. I spoke to his office. In fact Mr Cunningham was unable to see Mr Fung, but Alan Rogers saw him. I have passed the appropriate message to Mr Rogers' office.

3.

Mr Llewellyn suggested a "Dear Colleague" letter to be sent to selected MPS, again to prevent this issue taking off. We could produce a draft (indeed the Hong Kong Government Office have already produced the background note to the same end). But I have serious misgivings about the idea. There

CONFIDENTIAL