CONFIDENTIAL
MDHO
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9871
the Secretary for Security stress again the British Government's position that there is no question of increasing the scale of the British Nationality Scheme beyond the agreed total 50,000 principle beneficiaries to accommodate the ethnic minorities. There are no "spare places". The 225,000 maximum for beneficiaries under the scheme (including dependents) was intended as a purely illustrative figure. 50,000 principle beneficiaries was the figure enshrined in legislation and this is the key figure to which the government is committed. (ALL points made by Kwok in his 29 December briefing to the sub-committee).
6. The Secretary for Security might take the opportunity to spell out again that the handover of sovereignty will not produce statelessness. The British Government has honoured its obligation under the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. All those who are now British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTCs) will continue to have British nationality either by registering as British Nationals (Overseas) (BN0s) or by automatic registration as British Overseas Citizens (BOCs), should they fail to elect to become BN (0)s.
7. As regards how officials should vote, we accept your judgement that they should abstain and that they should explain their reasons for doing so.
8.
We
We have no objection to the Secretary for Security undertaking to put the case formally to HMG after the debate. can certainly submit further to Ministers and seek a response, perhaps in the form of a letter from Mr Wardle putting on record HMG's position in response to this latest debate. You should not, of course, hold out any hope that an approach to Ministers will lead to a change in policy.
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