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23. I realise that there has been disappointment that we
were not able to obtain transmissibility of British national
status by descent after 1 July 1997. We fought very hard to retain this benefit, which is of course one currently enjoyed
by British Dependent Territories citizens. But the Chinese
Government were not prepared to agree that anyone born after 1997 should acquire British nationality by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL