CONFIDENTIAL
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However, we are not sure whether it is intended that a child who lives with only one of its parents or on its own in the territory for three years should be entitled to register. We hope that it should, and would welcome clarification of this point.
Crown Service
9. We note that "Crown Servant" for the purpose of transmission of British Citizenship (WP para. 57) has yet to be defined (para. 1 of FCO telegram no. 677 of 19th August). We submit that it should include those British Citizens employed by the Hong Kong Government whether they are members of HMOCS or not. Such persons are normally recruited in the UK. Most of them maintain close links with the UK and return there at the end of their service with the Hong Kong Government.
Local Administrative Officers
10. Locally recruited Administrative Officers in Hong Kong have expressed grave concern about the implications of the White Paper proposals on them. Being political officers and required to be loyal to the Crown and committed to the British cause, they are most uneasy about the destiny of themselves and their immediate families in the event of Hong Kong being re-absorbed by China - which appears to be the only option for Hong Kong once it ceases to be a British dependent territory. They have, therefore, submitted in the attached letter that provisions should be included to permit the grant of British Citizenship to themselves and their children. This would also apply too to a small number of other senior local Government Officers whose appointments are made by the Secretary of State. The number of such Administrative and other local Officers involved would be about 200. And as discussed with Sir Edward Youde during his recent visit, this would also have special relevance to members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.
11.
This subject raises points of principle which go well beyond the White Paper proposals; and a separate submission will be made on it.
Expatriate British Citizens
12. The possible effects of the White Paper proposals on the retention and acquisition of British Citizenship by descent have caused concern among British interests in Hong Kong employing UK expatriates. You are aware of the representation dated 21st August, 1980, submitted by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to the Home Secretary.
CONFIDENTIAL
/cont'd.