SECRET
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a) an amendment would be put forward to give CBDTs the
right to register as British Citizens after 5 years
in the United Kingdom,
b) an amendment would be put forward to allow particular
Service to the Crown under the Government of a dependency
to count towards the residence requirement for naturalisation
or registration after the person concerned has taken up
residence in the United Kingdom,
c) urgent and sympathetic consideration was being given to
the possibility of an amendment to give the Home Secretary
discretion in the special circumstances of a particular
case to treat persons who have rendered substantial service
to the Crown under the Government of a Dependent Territory
to be regarded as satisfying the statutory requirement
for naturalisation or registration.
He would also have to explain why the Home Office was opposed to
Hong Kong's requests on nomenclature or their request for automatic
British Citizenship for wives. To the Press, he would merely say
that he had been given a very sympathetic hearing and that Ministers
had undertaken to consider how to meet Hong Kong's problems.
13 March 1981
Amelles for
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
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PS/Mr Blaker
PS/Mr Luce
PS/PUS
Sir E Youde
Mr Donald
Mr Adams
Mr Jones, NTD
SECRET