CONFIDENTIAL COVERING S ECRET
3. Since the inception of the new policy on citizenship,
leading to the passing of British Nationality Act 1981,
Hong Kong have been concerned, at the removal of CUKC
status from residents of dependent territories. They
have seen the changes as representing a weakening of the
links between the UK and Hong Kong, at a time of increasing
uncertainty about the Territory's future.
4.
During the passage of the Bill in Parliament Hong
Kong sought a number of concessions.
}
Some of these were
agreed or alternative changes were made which partly met
Hong Kong's requests.
They were subsequently applied to
all dependent territories.
were that:
The most significant of these
a. A third category of citizenship, British
!
Dependent Territories citizenship (BDTC)
was included in the White Paper and the Bill.
It had been the Government's original
intention to confer British Overseas citizen-
ship on those present citizens of the United
Kingdom and Colonies who will not acquire
British citizenship (BC) on 1 January 1983.
7
b. BDTCS became eligible for registration as
British citizens, a symbolic improvement
over the position of aliens who will need
to apply for naturalisation.
/5.
CONFIDENTIAL COVERING S E CRET
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