HKK
340/1
KELLIVED IN REG STRY NO. 51
5 JUN1979
SER
attached
Mr Paterson
IND
REGISTRY
Demon Taken
По
87.6
Nat. & Treaty Dept
NATIONALITY LAW REVIEW:
تسليه
Reference......
FP 340/1
Cc: Mr Holnes
IAD
Mr Quanti!', HE
cute du PA 823115
and
ра
BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP
1. As agreed in Mr Smedley's meeting on 23 May 1 should be grateful you would let me have copies of significant responses from que dependencies to the earlier proposals that there should be a form of citizenship for Citizens of the UK and Colonies who wi acquire British citizenship. We would be interested in any r from the British Resident Commissioner in the Now Hebrides ( probably not consulted) and the Governor of Pitcaim (now alu beh High Commissioner in Wellington).
2. As I said at the meeting we do not expect that there will difficulties in respect of the New Hebrides (whose inhabitant... gang in the main citizens of the UK and Colonies) or for Pitcairn, haze population numbers about 60. In the case of Pitcairn, like territories, there would need to be adequate arrangements for British Overseas citizens passport to be endorsed to the effceb holder has a right to return to Pitcairn, as otherwise overse may be difficult.
3. I suggested that if you are to make a case for the 700 for ahead with the proposals you should not base it on dependen territories generally, since for those dependent territorio. we a prospect of independence, there can scarcely be major problem". opposition must arise from conservatisms. You will need to m case on the difficulties which such changes would cause for os handling particularly difficult and delicate Colonial and poli.. problems, e.g. Gibraltar, Hong Kong, and if true, Belize.
4. The alternative, which you may suggest, of encouraging the establishment of individual Colonial citizenships, as recormU Çİ the Bow Group, may create problems for Pitcairn, and the Cov should be consulted if this is to be a serious suggestion in lo future. However, Pitcairn difficulties should obviously not key in this decision.
5. I mentioned my feeling that it might be more difficult to get n right decisions about minority rights if we asked Colonial Gogame and legislatures to create their own citizenship now rather tha independence; I mentioned the difficulties that we bad had over Gilbertese e the Solomons which had been solved partly becau were able to use other bargaining counter at the independene negotiations, e.g. aid. It was pointed out that the Keny i en was just the contrary. Other dependent territoryz deportman expect difficulties over minority rights after inlopendence ... ) to consider this point.
6. As was explained at the meeting we are discope ging he Gozparent? To enacting their own estimi, different circumstances) and try to get to this matcar rosolv dá. agreement on the independence constitution.
This, however,
should be resolved by late this year and the New Hebrides need not be taken into account in your general consideration of the cativons question.
0.
)
23 May 1979
RG PETTITT SPD (052A/0)