GR 400
Original at: NKK 340
Thi: Copy for:
Information only/ActionCONFIDENTIAL
Para(s)
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 381000Z
HICK RECEIVED
3421 UTY MO. S
30 MAR 1981
62B
1172
DEKK OLAGER
INDEX
PA
REISTIN Acton Takej
FM HONG KONG 380618Z MAR 81
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
Sex 620
TELEGRAM NUMBER 351 OF 30 MARCH
NICK 0262
RECAVID IN REGISTRY NO. 5]
FOLLOWING FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY TO SECRETARY OF STATE 13 APR 1951 FOR DONALD AND CLIFT
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
NATIONALITY BILL
مل
$22.4.
1. SIR S Y CHUNG CALLED ON LORD CARRINGTON THIS MORNING. THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONALITY BILL INEVITABLY
CAME UP. SIR S Y CHUNG MADE A STRONG PITCH FOR A CHANGE IN THE NOMENCLATURE.
cery war
MR IGN'T
2. CHUNG ARGUED THAT THE BILL WOULD MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR CBDTS WHEN TRAVELLING OVERSEAS BY MAKING THEIR NATIONALITY LESS RATHER THAN MORE CLEAR. HE ACCEPTED THAT THERE WAS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP AND THAT WE HAD UNDERSTANDABLY DECIDED
TO LABEL THOSE WITH THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AS ''BRITISH CITIZENS'' AND TO USE A DIFFERENT TITLE FOR THOSE WITH THE RIGHT OF ABODE ELSEWHERE. BUT SINCE WE WERE ALL AGREED THAT CBDTS WOULD REMAIN BRITISH NATIONALS, IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, (THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD DRAWN ON FCO TELEGRAM 290 TO HONG KONG), CHUNG COULD NOT SEE WHY THE NOMENCLATURE SHOULD NOT MAKE THIS
EXPLICIT. HE ASKED WHAT ANSWER CBDTS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE IN THE
FUTURE TO THE QUESTION ABOUT NATIONALITY ON STANDARD IMMIGRATION
CARDS. THE TERM CBDT WOULD BE MEANINGLESS IN THAT CONTEXT. WOULD
· CBDTS CONTINUE TO REPLY THAT THEIR NATIONALITY WAS 'BRITISH'' (AS
WAS IN FACT THE POSITION)? IF SO, SHOULD THEIR PASSFORT NOT MAKE THIS CLEAR, AS IT DOES AT PRESENT. IN PLACE OF THE PRESENT ''BRITISH
SUBJECT: CITIZEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES'' ON THE TITLE
PAGE OF A PASSPORT, WHY COULD WE NOT HAVE HENCEFORTH ''BRITISH NATIONAL : CBDT ETC (AS APPROPRIATE)''.
3. HAVING EXHAUSTED THE POINTS IN HIS BRIEF (NO 20, PARAGRAPH 4) 183
LORD CARRINGTON HAD DIFFICULTY IN REFUTING CHUNG'S EMINENTLY
LOGICAL LINE OF ARGUMENT. HE TOLD CHUNG FIRMLY THAT WE HAD FOUGHT
HARD FOR AMENDMENTS REQUESTED BY HONG KONG, WITH SOME SUCCESS (FOR
WHICH CHUNG WAS GRATEFUL), AND THAT THE HOME SECRETARY HAD EMPHASISED BOTH TO HIM AND TO THE GOVERNOR THAT THE HOME OFFICE WAS NOT PREPARED TO MAKE A FURTHER ADJUSTMENT TO THE NOMENCLATURE, WHICH IT REGARDED AS LYING AT THE HEART OF THE BILL. BUT, AS YOU WILL APPRECIATE, IT WAS HARD TO EXPLAIN TO CHUNG WHY HIS PROPOSAL
WOULD OFFEND AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.