CODE 18-77
CONFIDENTIAL - 3-
Reference.
PEKING
12. HM Ambassador, Peking, has consistently argued against any nomenclature such as "British Citizen of Hong Kong" that could arouse Chinese suspicions about our long term plans for Hong Kong (folio 74). The Embassy have commented that Hong Kong's latest preference (see above) would seem to come into this category. Like Hong Kong, Peking's strong preference is for there to be no change at all.
OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
13. It seems generally accepted that other Dependent Territories would have to fall into line with whatever was decided for Hong Kong. But most of them seem to prefer a title that does not includes the words "colony" or "colonial".
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL