CONFIDEN TI AL
29384
1
4.
OTHERS. GIVEN THE BASIC AIMS OF THE BILL, TO INTRODUCE THE
CONCEPT OF BRITISH NATIONAL' INTO THE LEGISLATION AT THIS
STAGE WOULD CAUSE CONFUSION AND WOULD AROUSE OPPOSITION IN
PARLIAMENT.
HOWEVER FCO MINISTERS BELIEVE THAT A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE
WOULD BE TO INTRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL CLAUSE DECLARING THAT CBDTS,
WHILE FORMING A DEFINITE CITIZENSHIP CATEGORY, COULD ALTER- NATIVELY BE DESCRIBED AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS
WITH A FURTHER OPTIONAL VARIATION OF EG BRITISH (HONG KONG) `,
CITIZEN'. SUCH A DESIGNATION COULD BE USED IN PASSPORTS OR FOR
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES. IT WOULD OF COURSE BE MADE CLEAR
THAT CBDTS WERE NOT BEING ADMITTED TO A BRANCH OF BRITISH
CITIZENSHIP.
5.
WE ARE SUGGESTING THIS TO HOME OFFICE MINISTERS WHO IF THEY
AGREE THIS FORMULA MAY PREFER TO OMIT THE BRACKETS ROUND THE
NAME OF THE TERRITORY IN THE ALTERNATIVE DESIGNATION. WE ARE
TELEGRAPHING PEKING AS TO WHETHER THIS WOULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES
WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
6. GIVEN THE POLITICAL AND PARLIAMENTARY CONSTRAINTS HERE THIS
SOLUTION SEEMS A GOOD DEAL FOR HONG KONG IF WE CAN PERSUADE HOME
OFFICE MINISTERS TO SUPPORT IT. IT IS CERTAINLY THE MOST THAT WE
CAN EXPECT TO GET IN THE POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE HAVE TO
FACE THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT GUARANTEE TO ACHIEVE EVEN THAT MUCH.
IT WILL OF COURSE BE IMPORTANT TO AVOID ANY WIRECROSSING IN THE
WAY OF LOBBYING OF LORDS OR COMMONS MEMBERS AND, IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATÉ IF A RIVAL AMENDMENT ON 'BRITISH
NATIONAL' LINES WERE INTRODUCED SINCE IT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO
BE OPPOSED BY HMG. WE MUST ON THE ONE HAND PRESERVE HMG'S
PRINCIPAL AIMS IN THE BILL, AND ON THE OTHER MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE
AMONG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG OVER HMG'S POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR THEM.
7. PLEASE TAKE NO ACTION AT THIS STAGE WITH EXCO. WE WILL
TELEGRAPH WHEN AND IF INTERDEPARTMENTAL MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT
IS REACHED, TO ENABLE YOU TO BRIEF THEM.
See
(Beth)
CARRINGTON
LIMITED
HKGD
NTD
SED
SAMD
WIAD
2
PS
PS/LPS
PS/LORD TREFGARNE
MR DONALD
MR ADAMS
CONFIDENTIAL