00 PEKING
GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 151630Z OCT 79
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 612 OF 15 OCTOBER
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF HKGD WAS RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG TELNO 1421 OF 11 OCTOBER
1. THE POSSIBILITIES CONSIDERED BY UMELCO WERE:-
(1) NO CHANGE IN THE PRESENT NOMENCLATURE, I.E. CITIZEN OF THE UK AND COLONIES:
(11) CITIZEN OF THE UK AND COLONIES (HONG KONG):
(111) BRITISH CITIZEN (HONG KONG):
IV) BRITISH (HONG KONG) CITIZEN:
(V) CITIZEN OF UK DEPENDENCIES (HONG KONG): AND
(VI) CITIZEN OF UK COLONIES (HONG KONG).
2. THE STRONG PREFERENCE WAS FOR (1), OR IF SOME CHANGE IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL (11).
3. IT WAS REQUESTED THAT THE PRESENT PREFIX 'BRITISH SUBJECT'
SHOULD BE RETAINED.
4. THE FALL-BACK PREFERENCES WERE (111) AND (IV).
5. THERE WAS A DEFINITE DISTASTE FOR (V) AND (VI) - OBVIOUSLY
THEY ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO A NOMENCLATURE THAT, IT IT MUST BE A CHANGE FROM THE PRESENT ONE (OR SOMETHING VERY LIKE IT) EMPHASIZES
THE BRITISH NATURE OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS.
6. ALL ATTACHED MUCH MORE IMPORTANCE TO SECURING A SEPARATE
CATEGORY FOR RESIDENTS OF DEPENDENCIES THAN TO THE ACTUAL NOMENCLATURE.
CARRINGTON
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