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FM HONG KONG 271110Z MAY 81
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 533 OF 27 MAY
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
MIPT
2 8 MAY 1981
DESK OFFICER
PA
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DRAFT LETTER FROM LORD CARRINGTON TO SIR S Y CHUNG
دانا منام
See (2713
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER ABOUT THE BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL
1981.
689 340/1
PTC
2. 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. IT WOULD BE POINTLESS TO ATTEMPT
TO PUSH IT FURTHER.
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3. I THINK YOU HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE TERM ''BRITISH SUBJECT'' OR ''BRITISH NATIONAL NOT APPEARING ON PASSPORTS 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 TO HELP
WITH THEIR ENTRY INTO THIRD COUNTRIES. THAT THE HOLDER IS ''BRITISH"
AND THEREFORE ENTITLED TO HELP FROM UNITED KINGDOM CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES, WILL BE CLEARLY INDICATED BY THE TITLE **BRITISH PASSPORT'', AND THE DESCRIPTION "CITIZEN OF THE BRITISH (UNDERLINED)
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES''.
4. 1 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 LEGAL ONE AND NO EFFECT ON THE OBLIGATIONS 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.
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