CONFIDENTIAL
-3-
DSR 11C
Legal Advisers and also by the Attorney-General of Hong Kong,
If and and the Hong Kong authorities are fully aware of it. to the extent that an argument could be advanced that, aside from specific treaty commitments, a State must in. the last resort permit entry of its 'nationals' into its territory, that argument would not, in the view of my Fco
Legal Advisers, be strengthened by the inclusion in Hong Kong
passports of the additional description 'British national',
the more particularly as it is intended that those Hong Kong
passport-holders who do not have the right of abode in the UK
would still have their passports endorsed on page 5:
not to extend
INSERT
'The holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act
1971'.
5.
In all the circumstances, the Foreign and Commonwealth
might Secretary considers that the right course would be to accede
the Hong Kong request. The gesture would be seen as a natura
It would be very difficult He realises that consequence of the Prime Minister's visit.
this change would have to be extended to British Dependent
Territories Citizens in other Dependencies and recognises
be
there
also
that it might in turn lead to demands for 'British national'
to be similarly included in the passports of British
Overseas Citizens,, British Protected Persons and other
residuals.
However, there is no current pressure for this
and he would propose that it be resisted if it came.
CONFIDENTIAL