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citizenship to British subjects in the United Kingdom
and to British subjects in Hong Kong would be interpreted
here as related to Her Majesty's Government's intentions
about the long-term future of Hong Kong.
8.
The creation of a new kind of British overseas
Citizenship will certainly be seen as a first step towards
cutting Hong Kong adrift. This would seriously undermine
confidence, both internally and externally. I made these
points when I was first consulted informally on the draft
proposals for the Green Paper at the end of 1972. (See
my letter to Mr Wilford SCR 832/3481/72 of the 31st of
January 1973). I am convinced that it is in nobody's
interests to take any action which would reflect adversely
on stability or confidence in Hong Kong. It is particularly
important that no such action should be taken in the
difficult period before we reach an accommodation with
China about the long-term future of this territory.
9.
I must also make it clear that the proposal in
the Green Paper to create separate categories of British
citizenship and British overseas citizenship has caused
great resentment amongst members of the Chinese population,
particularly those who have been most closely associated
with the government. Senior Chinese Unofficial Members
of the Executive Council, who hold Hong Kong British
passports, still resent the loss of their right of entry
into the United Kingdom as a result of the Commonwealth
Immigrants Act of 1962. The way in which this decision
was implemented, without consultation, still rankles with
them.
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