CONFIDENTIAL
5.
[NOT FOR USE] On 21 October the Prime Minister held a
short meeting with the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and
the Home Secretary. She said that while she appreciated the
arguments put forward by the Home Secretary against the use of
'British National' in passports, refusal to make the gesture to
Hong Kong could have a serious effect on confidence there, in
the context of concern over the future. The Home Secretary
agreed to consider the matter further with the Secretary of State
and to submit proposals to the Prime Minister.
[NOT FOR USE]
•
It has been agreed at official level between FCO and
the Home Office that, as this is a question of description in
passports, FCO should lead. The matter will now be submitted
in parallel to Mr Pym and Mr Whitelaw on the basis of a recent
agreement between FCO and Home Office officials that the
following formulation would be feasible:
Nationality:
British
British Dependent Territories' Citizen
Name of Dependent Territory
The matter would then need to go to the Prime Minister.
>
Hong Kong and General Department
4 November 1982
CONFIDENTIAL