CONFIDENTIAL
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During his recent visit here, Mr. Raison, Minister of State of the Home Office, told the Governor that he saw the need to recognise the special position of expatriate businessmen with firm British connections. We, therefore, hope that the right of this category of people to transmit British Citizenship to their children born abroad will be given proper attention during the drafting of the Bill.
Future of Citizens of the British Dependent Territories (Hong Kong)
13. When UMELCO met Mr. Raison in Hong Kong on 19th September, they drew his attention to a recent news release on China's Nationality Law which, it was reported, does not allow Chinese nationals to hold dual nationality. They were concerned about the implications of this announcement for those people of Hong Kong who hold Citizenship of the British Dependent Territories in the event of Hong Kong ceasing to be a British dependent territory. Para. 97 of the White Paper explains what will happen to Citizens of the British Dependent Territories when a dependency becomes independent. However, it is not clear whether and how this statement may be applied to Hong Kong with its peculiar political status. It is obviously difficult to anticipate the future. But Hong Kong's reaction to the White Paper proposals is coloured by the uncertainty of what is ahead for the territory and its inhabitants.
Visa Requirements
14. People are concerned that their right of entry on visits to the UK might be adversely affected by the White Paper proposals and other countries might in future require Hong Kong British passport holders to apply for visas. Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils feel strongly that the UK practice of advising Hong Kong residents to obtain entry certificates before visiting the UK tends to influence other countries to discriminate against Hong Kong residents. They consider that such visa restraints are a serious impediment to trade development.
15. When Unofficial Members met Mr. Rais on here, they asked that the requirement of entry certificates for Hong Kong residents visiting the UK should be waived. They would also wish the FCO to continue to negotiate with other countries the visa right of Hong Kong residents. As you know, considerable efforts have been made to persuade countries like Japan and West Germany to relax their visa requirement for Hong Kong passport holders. Continuing FCO assistance would certainly be of great value in those negotiations.
CONFIDENTIAL
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