ZZ HONG KONG
GRS 403
CONFIDENTIAL
58
TOP COPY
HKK OGOTI
22 JAN 1985
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156Y57
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 211257Z JAN 85
TO FLASH HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO. 127 OF 21 JAN 1985
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
A
No
Pur
YOUR TELNOS 171-2: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NEW NATIONALITY TITLE
1. LATEST DRAFT OF SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH HAS NOW BEEN SENT
TO YOU. IT IS NOT A FINAL VERSION, AND YOU WILL NEED TO CHECK IT
AGAINST THE TEXT ACTUALLY DELIVERED.
2.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL ANNOUNCE THE TITLE 'BRITISH
NATIONAL (OVERSEAS)' IN HIS SPEECH. THE FOLLOWING DRAFT
PASSAGE HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE SPEECH.
BEGINS FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE HONG KONG EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL, IT IS INTENDED THAT THE TITLE OF THE NEW FORM OF NATIONALITY SHOULD BE 'BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS)'.
IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY TO DEVISE A TITLE WHICH MEETS ALL THE
NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS. ON THE ONE HAND IT NEEDS TO MAKE CLEAR
THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH A FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY.
NOTHING LESS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IN HONG KONG. ON THE OTHER
HAND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE TITLE WE CHOOSE CAN CONTINUE TO
BE USED AFTER 1997. FOR THIS TO BE POSSIBLE, THE TITLE MUST
CLEARLY CARRY NO IMPLICATION OF A CONTINUING CONSTITUTIONAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG AFTER 1997.
I BELIEVE THAT THE TITLE WE HAVE CHOSEN MEETS THESE NEEDS.
IT HAS NECESSARILY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CAREFUL
CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. THE COMPLETION OF
THESE CONSULTATIONS HAS ENABLED ME TO ANNOUNCE THE TITLE TO THE
HOUSE TODAY. THERE SHOULD NOW BE ADEQUATE TIME TO EXPLAIN THE
CHOICE OF THE NEW TITLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IF AN
AMENDMENT IS TO BE INTRODUCED INCORPORATING THE TITLE INTO THE
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CONFIDENTIAL