電話:

行政立法兩局

官守議員辦事處

香港遮打道九至二十五號

太古大厦十三樓

Mr. Monic

انا

disiun

* Your Ref:

本函檔號 Our Ref:

UT 5166

BIK GD for drift reply from Mußlaker

ps

APS/B/ceffice of Unofficial Members of

NTO

Pods

Enter R

Tel:

Executive and Legislative Councils

Swire House, 12th floor,

9-25 Chater Road,

Hong Kong

3-213506

Date: 22nd May 1981

270

The Rt. Hon. the Lord Carrington, KCMG, Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London via His Excellency Sir Murray MacLehose

GBE, KCMG, KCVO,

Governor of Hong Kong.

Dear Lord Carrington,

British Nationality Bill 1981

MC,

Hill 340/1

ник

99

RECEIVED IN PAMUNT 20, 51

? - JUN 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

مین

PA

REQSTRY Action Taken

$166

Pan (6/7

See ATTA

On behalf of my Unofficial colleagues, I write to express our growing concern about the uncertainty of our National identity. Whilst appreciating the amendment introduced to clause 4 of the draft Bill, to permit Hong Kong British subjects to obtain British Citizenship by registration rather than naturalisation, the retention of British National status is a matter of paramount importance to us. An explanation of the strong legal and practical reasons for not defining "British National" status under the Bill is still awaited.

282

It is understood that the Governor of Hong Kong has proposed a new clause which would put the position beyond doubt. It would provide that any person who is a British citizen, a Citizen of the British Dependent Territories, a British Overseas Citizen, a British subject under the Act or a British protected person is, while remaining a citizen, subject or person of that description, a British National. However, we note the Bill will shortly return to the floor of the House of Commons and it is not clear whether Her Majesty's Government is prepared to introduce such an amendment.

It is plainly evident from ministerial statements and exchanges in the Standing Committee, which has been considering the Bill, that there is both confusion and

/p. 2

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