DSR 11 (Revised)
DRAFT:
ute/letter/teleletter/despatch notex
TYPE: Draft/Final 1+
Reference
FROM:
Mr White
DEPARTMENT:
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
TO:
W N Hyde Esq
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT
TEL. NO:
Your Reference
Copies to:
PRIVACY MARKING
SUBJECT:
1.
..In Confidence
CAVEAT.
Enclosures--flag(s)........
James Addison may have told you about the meeting
he came to when John Griffiths, the Attorney General from
Hong Kong and John Freeland, our second Legal Adviser,
}
discussed the legal basis of the description of nationality
or citizenship entered in the passports of British
Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs).
2. Sir Edward Youde, the Governor of Hong Kong, has
commented that it would be very hard to explain to his
councillors why 'British national' could not be entered
in Hong Kong passports once the legal obstacle has been
removed as it now has been. The issue has assumed
considerable proportions in Hong Kong. It has become
caught up with the whole question of the future relation-
ship between Hong Kong and China and has a continuing
influence on confidence in Hong Kong. The Prime Minister
as you know is to visit China and Hong Kong in late
September. An important objective of her visit will be
to reassure Hong Kong opinion that HMG's commitment to
the territory remains effective. To deny BDTCs the
/designation