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ruled this out on political grounds because of the possible reactions in China (over Hong Kong), Spain (over Gibraltar) and the Argentine (over the Falkland Islands). It is, of course, for the geographical departments to express a view on this, but important exchanges with them on this subject suggest that problems with the Argentine and Spain may not be compelling reasons for resisting separate citizenships for the colonies: China/Hong Kong seems to be the major problem of this nature. It is obvious that the Home Office too are not attracted to the idea of separate
But citizenships for individual colonies; most if not all bodies that have put forward alternative citizenship schemes have recommended separate citizenship for each colony, and I see no nationality objection to
or difficulty in following this course. However,
I am assuming that separate citizenships for each colony are ruled out by the FCO.
7. If there were to be only one collective citizenship for all the colonies and Ministers decided against retention of British Subject as a linking status we are left with little choice for the title
aport from for colonial belongers bf British Dependent Territories Citizen or Citizen of the British Dependent Territories (or possibly British Dependencies Citizen, which the Home Office would probably prefer to those 2). An administrative variant to attach the name of the individual colony for use in passports etc would be essential and would not be opposed in principle by the Home Office. Responses from Governors indicate that beyond doubt the first choice in this range in the major dependencies would be 'British (Hong Kong) Citizen' as an administrative variant of British Dependencies Citizen. The Home Office would not like this because of its affinity with 'British Citizen'; but I disagree with their fears on this score and they might be prepared to concede the point if they have won all the others. There are, however, serious doubts about such an administrative title in the geographical departments, particularly over Hong Kong, because that administra- tive title has a suggestion of a separate citizenship for the colony. It is primarily for those departments concerned to advise whether if we fail to secure the retention of 'British Subject' as a common title we should try to persuade the Home Office to accept
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CONFIDENTIAL
/'British
!