CONFIDENTIAL
that the Government opposed the incorporation into British citizenship of certain other dependencies. (iv) The new Bill, in defining three categories of
citizenship, which coincide with the present immigration laws of the UK is not materially affecting the status of Hong Kong citizens. The division of the present citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies (NB not citizenship of the United Kingdom tout court) into a citizenship of the United Kingdom and a citizenship of the Colonies
which Ministers have described as parallel citizenships cannot reasonably be regarded as carrying with it the dire consequences alleged in recent telegrams.
3.
v) Certain concerns expressed by Hong Kong Crown
Servants about the need to leave a loophole for
registration at the Home Secretary's discretion
and also stating a preference for a registration
rather than a naturalisation procedure for those
who have gained right of abode in the UK, were
taken on board by the Government, and passed in Parliament, albeit with some difficulty, as Government amendments. In giving a status which
would carry with it the right of abode in the UK,
and applying this to other than Crown Servants
the Bill now gives benefits not enjoyed in
current legislation.
On the question of nationals. There has never been
any doubt in our minds that the people of the existing
dependencies are nationals of the UK in the international
law sense of the term used by Mr Luce and I am glad
that the Unofficials now appear to accept that. Ministers
have also made it clear in Committee that BOCs and other
categories will continue to receive consular assistance,
and that must apply, a fortiori, to the people from
existing dependencies. I trust that the Unofficials
accept that too, now, and I would stress that it has
never been doubted elsewhere.
CONFIDENTIAL
/4.