TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 204

CONFIDENTIAL

declaration that they have remained British subjects and cau then acquire British passports. Since 1949 over 122,000 have made such a declaration. No change is proposed, except that Irish citizens who make the declaration would resume British subject status from the date their application is granted, not retrospectively from 1 January 1949 as now. Nearly everyone born in Northern Ireland is or can easily become an Irish citizen and the resulting dual citizenship is resented by Loyalists. The position of these duals will not be affected by the proposals.

8. The EEC

It was not possible for other EEC countries to accept those CUKCS who were not connected with this country as United Kingdom nationals for the purposes of the Treaty. At the time of our accession to the EEC we therefore made a declaration, which was in fact negotiated, intended to limit the categories of United Kingdom nationals who would be so regarded for Community purposes. In view of the application of the EEC Trenly to Gibraltar by virtue of the United Kingdom's membership of the Community (Article 227(4)), the declaration also includes "nited Kingdom citizens who derive their status from a connection with Gibraltar. The declaration thus defines United Kingdom nationis as CUKCs or BSWCs with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and CUKCS born etc in Gibraltar or children of such Gibralbor

CUKCS. This declaration would have to be amended to take necmput

of the new citizenship. The proposed new status of British Citizen would include some United Kingdom nationals, estimabod at not more than 100,000, who are not covered by the present declaration. These are CUKCS, BSWCs and BPPs who are settled in

the United Kingdom at Royal Assent and who would become Heibirdh Citizens. Though it is hoped that the Community would accept ell these British Citizens, the matter would have to be negotiated,

9. HMG are committed to introdce the EEC uniform passport as soon as practicable after 1978. The then Prime Minister in the European Council of December 1975 made a reservation on the dabe, explaining that the United Kingdom could not introduce the uniform passport before the new nationality legislation came into fores, not earlier than 1979.

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/Estimated