CONFIDENTIAL
1
THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS IDENTIFIED
EMPIRE
32.
THEMSELVES WITH THE BRITISH
The same is essentially true of all British nationals,
including the populations of other dependent territories. Britain
is not abandoning them. They will be able to retain a form of
British nationality for their lifetime, and to travel on British
passports.
CLAIMED PARALLEL WITH FALKLAND ISLANDS
33.
Not appropriate to draw
Islands) Act 1983
a parallel. The British Nationality
(Falkland
conferred British citizenship on the
Falkland Islanders because of their particular role in the South
Atlantic hostilities. Made clear during passage of the Act that
their situation was wholly exceptional, and that this did not
provide a precedent for other Dependent Territories. The majority
of the Falkland Islanders were already British citizens because they
were previously CUKCS with the right of abode in the UK through
their parents or grandparents.
PARALLEL WITH GIBRALTAR
34.
Not appropriate to draw a parallel. British citizenship has
not been conferred on Gibraltarians. People closely connected with
Gibraltar are BDTCS.
They have an unconditional entitlement to
registration as British citizens because they fall to be treated as UK nationals for European Community purposes.
EFFECT OF HONG KONG AGREEMENT ON THESE PEOPLE IS RACIST
35.
Definitely not.
These provisions apply to all people who are
BDTCs and have по other nationality regardless of their ethnic
origin; this includes
ethnic origin
da
for
will
their nationality status.
people of many races.
example Indians
be
according to
propositions is consistent with racism which
Indians (and only Indians)
opportunity to apply for same British status, that of BN (O). in principle to discriminate between BDTCs on racial grounds.
in the same way.
People of the same
treated differently
Neither of these
would treat all ethnic
All BDTCs have some
Wrong
POSITION OF NON-CHINESE BDTCs RESIDENT ABROAD
36. Residence outside Hong Kong is not a bar to the acquisition of
CONFIDENTIAL