CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 933
OF 16053OZ MARCH 90
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
204
071230-
MDHIAN 1577
HKD":340/42Y
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY ||
23 MAY 1990
DESK OFFICER
184
196
INDEX
PA
Action. I
YRTELNO 557 AND PEKING TELNO 401: NATION
مو
TYPACKAGE", PQ
1. WE NOTE THAT THE PQ REFERS TO PASSPORTS, AND NOT JUST TO BRITISH CITIZEN PASSPORTS. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING REPLY:
'THE MEMORANDA ATTACHED TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE CURRENTLY BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS (BDTCS) TO BE ABLE TO USE PASSPORTS ISSUED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AFTER 1997. THE PASSPORT CONCERNED IS THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT.
AS THE HON. GENTLEMAN IS AWARE, WE INTEND TO GRANT FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO A NUMBER OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS. WHILST IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR ME TO REVEAL THE DETAILS OF CONFIDENTIAL EXCHANGES, I CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THAT THIS IS A MATTER WHICH FALLS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. IT IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION'
2. YOU WILL NOTE THAT OUR SUGGESTED REPLY INCLUDES PEKING'S POINT ABOUT HAVING MADE CLEAR TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THAT THE GRANTING OF FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IS A MATTER FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT RECALL THIS SPECIFIC POINT BEING MADE FORMALLY TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. IT MAY OF COURSE BE THAT PEKING MADE THIS POINT TO THE MFA LAST DECEMBER WHEN INFORMING THEM OF NATIONALITY PACKAGE.
WILSON
YYYY
1
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