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Dependent Territories are excluded from this provision.
Only
Crown Servants employed by the Government of the United Kingdom
are eligible for this criterion for naturalisation as British
citizens as an alternative to the establishment of residence in
the United Kingdom.
6. The Hong Kong Government have pressed for an amendment to the
Schedule which would leave the term 'Crown Servant' sufficiently
undefined so as not to exclude Dependent Territories employees,
although they acknowledge that there would have to be an element
of discretion on the part of the Home Secretary.
7. There are serious political difficulties about meeting Hong
Kong's point. Simply to leave the criterion open would risk a
very large number of people applying for naturalisation. At official
level, we have pointed this out and suggested that another way
might be found to meet the fears of public servants in an exposed
position, perhaps by a confidential assurance.
8. In a telephone call today, the Governor has emphasised the
importance from Hong Kong's point of view of action in the context
of the Bill itself. He understands the political difficulties for
HMG but stresses that feeling among senior officials and Unofficials
is so high that there might be a number of resignations and a
threat to effective government in the Territory.
He strongly urged that
the Secretary of State should speak to the two Unofficials on the
following lines:
a) We realise the importance of the effect of the Bill on
officials and Unofficials.
b) We will try to think of some amendment to the Bill to
provide an assurance on naturalisation or entry.
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/c)