TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 91

GR

9

INMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 270908Z

SECRET

SCRET

ROAD IN

REGISTRY NO. 51

28 APR 1977

NXK 3 40/1

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 418 OF 27 APRIL.

NATIONALITY LAW.

i

Joels

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE WHICH WILL BE ISSUED HERE TONIGHT AT 11.30 HRS. G.M.T.:

''H.M.G.'S GREEN PAPER ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW.

A GREEN PAPER ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW WAS TABLED BY THE HOME SECRETARY IN PARLIAMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY)

TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON A NUMBER OF COMPLEX ISSUES RELATING TO NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP. THE OBJECT IS STAT TO BE TO EXAMINE HOW OUR NATIONALITY LAW CAN BE SIMPLIFIED AND BROUGHT UP-TO-DATE. BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IS NOW IN MANY RESPECTS

INCLUDING DIFFERENT FROM THE CITIZENSHIP OF MANY OTHER COUNTRIES,

BRITAIN'S PARTNERS IN THE E.E.C.''

THE GREEN PAPER IS A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WHICH WILL ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION. ANY RESULTING BRITISH LEGISLATION WILL NOT BE INTRODUCED FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS. AS STATED IN THE PREFACE ''THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR DIFFERING VIEWS BOTH ON THE PRINCIPLES AND DETAILS OF A NEW SCHEME, AND THEY THINK IT RIGHT TO GIVE AMPLE TIME FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION OF THE IDEAS IN THE DOCUMENT, WHICH WOULD AFFECT EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY AND MANY PEOPLE OVERSEAS. THE GOVERNMENT

HAVE THEMSELVES REACHED NO FIRM CONCLUSIONS ON MANY OF THESE IDEAS. BUT WHERE THEY ARE AT PRESENT INCLINED TOWARDS A PARTICULAR

COURSE THE DOCUMENT SAYS SO''..

UNDER THE PROPOSED SCHEME, CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES WOULD BECOME EITHER BRITISH CITIZENS OR BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS.

/BRITISH