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XM (85)3
(6F)
23
Redacted under FOI Exemptions Sec 40 and 41
said
Kong Bill to incorporate the title.
that he did not think Unofficials were able to say
whether the proposed title would be acceptable to people
in Hong Kong because public opinion bad not been
tested. While he would have no objection to it being
announced on 21 January, he felt that the title should
not be incorporated in the Bill until after its
acceptability to Hong Kong people had been established.
pointed to the dangers of encouraging
too much
much public debate оп the title given the very
limited scope for acceptable alternatives.
3.
Redacted Under FOI
Exemption Sec 27(1) (a)(c)(d)
considered it important that, when the title was
announced, the rights and privileges attached to the new
status should be explained and it should be made clear
that the new status was not the same as 'British
Overseas citizen'.
4.
Members then confirmed, after discussion, that
(a) the title 'British National
(Overseas)' should be put to the
Chinese;
(b) if Chinese
secured,
acceptance was
the
title should be
made public. It would be
preferable if this could be done
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