HKCK 340ll
RECEIVED
ERY D. 51
? JUN 1981
CONFIDENTIAL
PA
REGISTRY Action Tako
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
TOP COP
13715 1
283
178
00 HONG KONG DESKE
GRS 612
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 09010OZ
FM FCO 08141OZ JUNE 81
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 518 OF 8 JUNE.
FOR GOVERNOR
MIPT:
1.
BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL
REPLY TO SIR S Y CHUNG'S LETTER: 270 'THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 22 MAY.
See (302)
See HAK 340|1
THE GOVERNOR HAS SINCE TOLD YOU THAT I PUT TO THE HOME SECRETARY YOUR PROPOSAL FOR A NEW CLAUSE PROVIDING FOR THE
RETENTION OF BRITISH NATIONALITY' BY CBDTS, AND THAT HE FOUND
IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCEPT. THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO SET OUT THE
REASONS. THESE ARE SO STRONG THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS
ANY CHANCE OF SUCH A CLAUSE BEING ACCEPTED: OR THAT THERE WOULD
BE ANY POINT IN PRESSING THE CASE FURTHER.
I THINK YOU HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE TERM
'BRITISH SUBJECT' OR 'BRITISH NATIONAL' NOT APPEARING ON PASS-
PORTS IN FUTURE (WHETHER OF BRITISH CITIZENS OR OF CITIZENS OF
BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES). THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE RIGHT
OR COMMITMENT OF HMG TO REPRESENT CBDTS INTERNATIONALLY OR THEIR
READINESS TO HELP WITH THEIR ENTRY INTO THIRD COUNTRIES. THAT
THE HOLDER WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE
FROM BRITISH CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES WILL BE CLEARLY INDICATED
BY THE TITLE BRITISH PASSPORT AND THE DESCRIPTION 'CITIZEN OF
THE NEXT WORD UNDERLINED BRITISH DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES'. I CAN APPRECIATE THAT THE OMISSION OF THIS LONG-
USED NATIONALITY DESCRIPTION MAY HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT.
I CAN ONLY ASSURE YOU THAT IT HAS NO PRACTICAL ONE AND NO
EFFECT ON THE COMMITMENT OF HMG, AND I DO TRUST THAT YOU AND
YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO IMPRESS THIS
FACT ON ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SHARE YOUR CONCERN.
/WITH REGARD
1982
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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