CONFIDENTIAL

ESSENTIAL FACTS

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1.

issue.

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

CLOSED FOR

..7...YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No. 40, 27(1) 8 (2)

38,41

Lord Belstead is familiar with the background to this

NATIONALITY

2.

BNA has had considerable effect on HMG's relations with

Hong Kong and the Unofficials. Despite the recent agreement that BDTCS should be described as "British" in their passports Act is widely considered as lack of commitment to Hong Kong, in comparison to Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

DISCRETIONARY REGISTRATION UNDER THE BNA

A

3.1 Section 4 of BNA provides for discretionary registration as British citizens for those with Crown Service in Dependent Territories or for members of any body established under the Crown. The Home Secretary will exercise his discretion sparingly. Applicants will be judged principally on the nature and quality of their service, and their connections with the UK will obviously be relevant. Criteria will be strict, and successful applications will be the exception rather than the rule. Mr-Raison-made these points in the House of Commons. Standing Committee-F on 31 March 1981..

- זיְ

4.

Much press

C

and public interest in Hong Kong after the Local Inspectors' Association of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force asked their

members' permission to represent them in "negotiations" with HMG

over their right of abode in the UK. Mr Clinton Davies MR... raised this matter in the House of Commons Debate on Dependent

Territories on 15 April 1983. Mr Onslow referred him to the-

Home Secretary

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