the immigration aspect. The significant difference between BOTCS and BOCS is that there are compelling reasons for us
to help Hong Kong because the passport question has become
entwined with considerations of their future, and because
Hong Kong has a political weight which enables them to
advance their interests in ways that are not availablę to
BOCS, BPPS and residual British subjects.
7.
In view of these considerations I suggest that the best
course to follow will be to leave the five formulas in para-
graph 3 above unamended as descriptions of nationality in
passports, except in the case of BDTC where 'British' should
be inserted against the printed words 'National status/
immediately above
Nationalité and/'British Dependent Territories Citizen'. A
}
specimen is enclosed to show how this might appear in passports
issued to Hong Kong belongers.
8. You will recall that when you discussed this on 21
October the question arose of whether the words 'Holder is
subject to control under the Immigration Act, 1971' might be
transferred from page 5 to page 1 of the passport. It seems
to me that the observation is better left on page 5 where
immigration officials round the world have become used to
finding it, but that we should amend the note at the foot of
page 1 to read 'Attention is drawn to the notes at the back
of this passport and to any observation relating to control
under the Immigration Act, 1971 on page 5'; and that we
should add a new note at the back of the book immediately after
that on validity as follows:
y'
'Citizenship and National Status British citizens have
the right of abode in the United Kingdom, No right of
abode in the United Kingdom derives from the status.
/as