CONFIDENTIAL
Gibraltar amendment stands, people in the Dependent
Territories, in particular Hong Kong, will see a
some underlining
need for mere proeise refters on of their
connection with Britain. However, Ministers do not
believe that it would be politically practicable
to get parliamentary agreement to a clause on these
lines. The reasons have already been explained in
FCO Telegram No 483
of 21 May.
Briefly, they are of two kings:
→
a) the imprecision of the concept of British
Nationality in international law. There is no
consensus among governments on its meaning.
Thus, although HMG fully accepts that for the
purposes of protection and representation
abroad, persons covered by the Bill are British
Nationals, it would not be possible to translate
this into domestic legislation.
b)
The danger of encouraging misunderstanding on
the right of abode of the various categories under|
the Bill, including not only CBDTs but also
British Overseas Citizens and others. Given the
basic aims of the Bill, to introduce the opt
of 'British National' into the legislation at
this stage would cause confusion and would arouse
opposition in Parliament.
2.
However FCO Ministers believe that an
acceptable alternative would be to introduce an
additional clause declaring that CBDTS, while
forming a definite citizenship category, could
domibed e.g.
h
as an alternative be designated as, 'British (Hong
Kong) Citizen' Such a designation could be used
•
in passports or for other administrative purposes.
CONFIDENTIAL
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