I
CONFIDENTIAL
(In varying degrees this objection would apply also to
'British Citizen of Hong Kong', 'British (Hong Kong)
Citizen' and 'British Citizen (Hong Kong)'.
But this
difficulty could be reduced if designations mentioning
Hong Kong were only used as an administrative local
variant of a generalised category. A representative pair
of examples if:
3.
a) Category Citizen of the British Dependent
Territories'.
b) Variant British (Hong Kong) Citizen'.
Since 23 July 1979 when the Private Secretary wrote
to the PS/Home Secretary, the Secretary of State has
discussed the question on 1 November 1979 with the
leading unofficial. member of the Executive Council,
Sir Y K Kan. Lord Carrington then expressed sympathy
with Hong Kong's interest in emphasising the UK connection.
It is clear that, although Hong Kong Unofficial Members put
first priority on achieving the third citizenship cate-
gory, they are still extremely concerned at the prospect
of a change in nomenclature.
4. The main question for immediate decision is the
order of our next moves, with Hong Kong and the Home
Office. Two courses have been suggested by NTD and
HKGD respectively:
a) to recommend to FCO Ministers that Hong Kong
be told now that the retention of CUKC is out of
the question but that we will pursue with the Home
Office other ways in which their preoccupations
can be met.
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/b)
C