CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
5.
the distinction between the categories and could cause
legal problems for the Government. He agreed, however,
to the Lord Privy Seal's suggestion that the relevant
sections of the White Paper should be drafted so as to
make clear that definite decisions had not been reached
on the nomenclature for the Dependent Territories and that
account would be taken of comments from the territories.
You may now wish to inform EXCO of the position,
stressing that Ministers have personally considered Hong
Kong's problems and the representations made to them by
EXCO members. They have put the Territory's case forcibl
to the Home Secretary. The result has been acceptance of
the third category, which has all along been Hong Kong's
priority, and agreement that a decision on nomenclature
will be left until after the White Paper stage, although
Lor sime
variant
'Citizen of British Dependent Territories' is a likely
option.
6.
The White Paper will be published before the
end of the current Parliamentary Session. 'We will send
you a copy for the confidential information of EXCO before
the publication date. Thereafter it will be open to the
to
Council and or other bodies and individuals in Hong Kong
to give their views to HMG.
CONFIDENTIAL
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