PP HONG KONG
GRS 332
HKK
P
340/1
RECEIVED IN REKRY NO. 51
16 JAN 1980P COPY
DESK OFFICER
REGSTRY
INDEX
PA
CONFIDENTH
Action Taken
Ли
$16.1.
6279-1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 091720Z JAN 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 20 OF 9 JANUARY
FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT
NEW NATIONALITY LEGISLATION
1. YOU WILL HAVE RECEIVED GUIDANCE ON THE NEW BILL WHICH IS
LIKELY TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT WEEK. YOU MAY TELL EXCO ON 13
JANUARY THAT PUBLICATION IS IMMINENT. REGRET HOWEVER THAT YOU
CAN SAY NO MORE UNTIL THE BILL IS PUBLISHED BECAUSE OF PARLIA-
MENTARY PRIVILEGE.
2. REPLY TO CATER'S LETTER OF 20 OCTOBER 1980 WILL BE IN BAG
LEAVING HERE ON 12 JANUARY. I APOLOGISE FOR THE DELAY. THIS IS
BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO CONSULT THE HOME OFFICE ON MANY DETAILED
POINTS WHICH WERE THEMSELVES AFFECTED BY CONSIDERATION OF THE NEW
LEGISLATION. MAIN POINTS ARE:
A) HONG KONG PASSPORTS. THE FORMAT OF PASSPORTS WILL NOT BE
DEALT WITH IN THE NATIONALITY BILL. WE HOPE IT WILL BE
POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE HONG KONG PASSPORT VERY SIMILAR TO THE
PRESENT FORM. THERE WOULD HOWEVER BE DIFFICULTIES OVER
OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF THE FORMULA 'BRITISH/HONG KONG' AS A
DESCRIPTION OF CITIZENS OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES IN
HONG KONG.
B) CROWN SERVICE AS A BASIS FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP. HMOCS WILL
BE INCLUDED WITHIN THIS CATEGORY BY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. OTHER
EXPATRIATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WILL BE DEALT WITH UNDER THE
ARRANGEMENTS IN (C).
C) OTHER EXPATRIATE BRITISH CITIZENS. ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE
FOR CHILDREN OF SOME EXPATRIATE BRITISH BUSINESSMEN AND OTHER
EMPLOYEES TO ACQUIRE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP PROVIDED THAT THEIR
EMPLOYMENT MEETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS INCLUDING A CLOSE CONNEC-
1
CONFIDENTIAL