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a passport it was essential to distinguish between nationality and citizenship in order to avoid misunderstanding and confusion. Hong Kong is not a country and CBDT (Hong Kong) alone did not clearly indicate nationality.
The Foreign Secretary appreciated the force of this argument and, in anticipation of the discussion, had sought the views of the Home Office. He said he had just received a telegram on the subject from the Home Office. They were not receptive to the idea. He agreed with parts of the telegram, but disagreed or could not follow other passages. He would seek clarification, but was not optimistic about persuading Home Office to change its position. He and the Governor both had probably exhausted their capital in securing the amendments in train. The Home Office view was that "British national" was no longer a meaningful term; "UK national" or subject was more accurate.
Lord Carrington feared the inscription within the CBDT passport would simply identify the holder as "Citizen of a British Dependent Territory". He would do what he could in London. But felt that the issue might more profitably be pursued by Members using their own resources to press the matter.
Hong Kong Student Fees in the UK
The
Hon. Alex S.C. WU recounted the distress this measure had caused Hong Kong students studying in the UK and the consequences of the move for Britain. Foreign Secretary said he was wholly in agreement with the Hong Kong position. move represented a very unpleasant decision which had been forced on the Government for economic reasons. When the economy recovered, he hoped the restoration of favourable terms for the admission of Commonwealth students to UK universities would top the list of the reforms which might then be introduced.
What particularly hurt was that Hong Kong students were being placed on the same footing as aliens. Accepting that the UK had special commitments to its EEC partners, the move would have been easier to understand if even slightly more favourable terms had been allowed to students from Hong Kong in recognition of our dependent status. Reference was made to the possibility of Hong Kong directly subsidizing places in UK universities, but the Governor pointed out that an examination of the scheme had shown that it would be too complicated.
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