TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 58

11. Malaysia. On Malayan independence in 1957, the Malayan Government reluctantly agreed to allow persons, mainly of Chinese ethnic origin connected with the Settlements of Penang and Malacca, to retain their citizen- ship of the United Kingdom and Colonies even though they were to acquire citizenship of Malaya and have since become citizens of Malaysia. These now number about 1.3 million. There are also about 120,000of Indian ethnic origin, most of whom are CUKCs, who have not become citizens of Malaysia. The new generation of Malaysian Ministers would inevitably have their attention draw to the status of these people in. United Kingdom law, and this might cause the Malaysian Government to exert pressures on them and on HC.

RELATIONS WITH THE "OLD" COLLONWEALTH

12. Australia and New Zealand. People of British origin in these countries have strong ties of family and blood with the United Kingdom and resent being treated in the same way as Commonwealth citizens elsewhere who have no such ties. The proposals would tend to weaken links which are important to us commercially, professionally, socially and in other ways, including the feeling of kinship, and would be inter- preted as further evidence of a tendency for Britain to be- come more narrowly nationalistic in its outlook and attitudes. Those who become British citizens would particularly resent their inability under the proposals to acquire another citizen- ship without loss of their British citizenship. Any failure to preserve the present arrangement, whereby a Commonwealth citizen, one of whose grandparents was born in the United Kingdom, can readily enter the United Kingdom for employment, would cause concern. Adverse reactions to the proposals are not however expected in Canada to the same extent.

RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES

13. The proposals would come as a severe blow to many British communities in foreign countries who have hitherto been able to transmit their citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonics to their children by consular birth registration,

which would be abolished. Because it would be seen that the nationality tie of their descendents with this country would

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