CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT EXTRACT FROM LETTER TO THE HOME OFFICE
DSR 11C
The Governor of Hong Kong has argued that it is of major importance for Hong Kong that there should be no change in the title of status of CUKCS who are Hong Kong belongers, unless clear and convincing reasons can be put forward to explain why a change is necessary. He does not dispute the need to create a new category of "British Citizen" for those who have a right of abode in the UK, and he understands the reason for creating the status of "British Overseas Citizen" for those whose UK citizenship does not carry with it the right of abode in either the UK or in a Dependent Territory. But he believes that for the rest, ie those who do have a right of abode in a British Dependent Territory (the overwhelming majority of whom are, of course, in Hong Kong), there is no compelling reason why they should not be allowed to retain the
present title, particularly since, in the Hong Kong context at least, there are powerful reasons why a change should be
avoided.
The Governor's senior Local advisers have made it clear to him that they would be greatly disturbed if there is any change in the present classification of Hong Kong CUKCS. They believe that people in Hong Kong are aware that they constitute the majority of those who would come into the new category of British Overseas Citizen, as proposed in the 1977 Green Paper, and they will therefore assume
therefore assume that the purpose of
the changes is deliberately to down-grade the status of people in Hong Kong. The decision to introduce a new, separate category of British citizenship for those with the right of abode in a Dependent Territory is not going to make any difference if it still involves a change in title.
change is going to cause widespread and deeply felt resentment
in Hong Kong that will make the Governor's task in admini-
stering the Territory considerably more difficult.
is
Thus a
But there make more to it than just resentment.
The Hong Kong people will see no other possible explanation for the down-grading of their status than a calculated attempt by the British Government to distance themselves from Hong Kong as a preliminary to an eventual British withdrawal.
This could
/have
CONFIDENTIAL
Busup Py 532113 200M 2/79 SIS