TNAG-2932-FCO40-4207-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 66

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 775

OF 17110OZ MAY 93

CONFIDENTIAL

HED 340/1

RECE

18 MA: 1993

TOP COPY Q DIST?

'94-'

062170

MDHIAN 1142

ра

17/5.

سل

BN (0) PHASED REGISTRATION PROGRAMME.

1.

WE MET THE NATIONALITY SUB-COMMITTEE AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. THE MEETING WENT ALONG, BY NOW, TRADITIONAL LINES: THEY PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WE EXPLAINED WOULD NOT WORK AND WE AGAIN REACHED AN IMPASSE, WITH THE SUB-COMMITTEE AGREEING THAT A PHASED PROGRAMME WAS NECESSARY, BUT INSISTING THAT IT DID NOT REQUIRE LEGAL SANCTIONS. THE MEETING WAS VERY EMOTIONAL, WITH BOTH RAISED VOICES AND ACCUSATIONS OF DISHONESTY AND DISCOURTESY.

TWO POINTS EMERGED WHICH CAUSED US SOME DIFFICULTIES:

2.

(A)

OUR FAILURE TO PROVIDE A TIMETABLE FOR THE TABLING OF THE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL AND ITS PASSAGE THROUGH PARLIAMENT: AND

(B) OUR FAILURE TO LET MEMBERS SEE THE ACTUAL ORDER.

3. FAILURE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC ANSWER ON THE TIMETABLE MERELY FUELLED THE CONSPIRACY THEORY. WE WERE ASKED WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO HIDE. WE WERE WARNED THAT FAILURE TO LET MEMBERS KNOW BEFORE THE ORDER WAS TABLED (SO THAT THEY COULD LOBBY BEFOREHAND) WOULD BE VIEWED VERY UNFAVOURABLY.

4. WE HEARD THAT, AFTER OUR MEETING, MEMBERS DECIDED TO ADVANCE THE DATE FOR THEIR LOBBYING EFFORTS IN LONDON. THEY HAVE NOT YET FIXED A DATE, BECAUSE MEMBERS WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THEIR AVAILABILITY. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS WE HAVE A DATE. THEY ARE ALSO PLANNING TO SEEK A LEGAL OPINION ON THE NEED TO HAVE PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF A BN (0).

COMMENT.

5. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE MUST PRESS AHEAD AS QUICKLY AS

POSSIBLE WITH THE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL. WE UNDERSTAND (TELECOM KELLY/KWOK REFERS) THAT THERE IS A SUGGESTION THAT THIS ORDER MIGHT BE DECOUPLED FROM THE ORDER DEALING WITH BNS. WE WOULD

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CONFIDENTIAL