TNAG-2943-FCO40-4219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 39

нко

HUD 340 16

RECE

15 DEC 1993

INDE

Mr Ricketts

Mr Ham

Thanks

Eur 13/12

161

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ethaci

minonties.

FROM: Deborah Barnes Jones

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 13 December 1993

HONG KONG NATIONALITY: PRIVATE MEMBERS BILL PUT FORWARD BY

LORD BONHAM-CARTER

1.

Lord Bonham-Carter has introduced a Private Peer's Bill

aimed at providing for the acquisition of British citizenship by the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. The second reading debate

takes place today in the House of Lords. (Timing has slipped

through the day, it now looks like running from about 2000).

Home Office officials are briefing Earl Ferrers who will speak

for the Government.

2.

You asked me to let you know the next stage, presuming (as

we must) that the Bill gets through today's reading. The bottom

line is that once the Bill is scheduled for a second reading in

the House of Commons, the Government will ensure its defeat. To

get to this stage could take a shorter or a longer time,

depending on whether any amendments are passed this evening. If they are, this will entail some Committee work in the Lords

before the Bill passes back to the Commons.

I am keeping in touch with the Home Office and will let you know how this Bill progresses.

3.

PP.

Debbie Bones Bones.

Deborah Barnes Jones

bon.min.NAT

SLM

You were asking about this debate.

Jamie's and

Ms Parner Janer

up

the Monne

office

de prefent to back

Polish

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