Conf
BACKGROUND
Nationality Act 1981
6.
[Replace existing paragraph with the following]
An important current issue is that the Hong Kong Government,
at the instigation of UMELCO, have been urging consideration
of possibility of adding a title including the word 'National'
(such as 'British National') to the passports of BDTCS.
Question being discussed between Whitehall Departments.
[NOT FOR USE] It is agreed between Departments that there
is no legal objection to this, but Mr Whitelaw is strongly
opposed to the proposal on immigration grounds, and because
of possible complications in the human rights field. The
FCO do not fully accept these objections and consider that
full weight must be given to the political considerations
in terms of reassuring Hong Kong opinion.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
September 1982
2
Came..
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