TNAG-0845-FCO40-1055-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 144

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT BY MR PETER BLAKER MP TO HONG KONG: 23-25 SEPTEMBER 1979

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR

BE

NO. HK3d:

PROPOSED CHANGES IN BRITISH NATIONALITY LAWS

1. The Green Paper on British nationality published in 1977 pro-

posed, among other things, that the present "Citizenship of the UK

and Colonies" should be replaced by two new categories of citizen-

ship: "British Citizenship" for those with the right of abode in

the UK,

and "British Overseas Citizenship" for all those without

such a right. The purpose of the change was to bring citizenship

regulations into line with immigration regulations. The present

Government have announced their intention of introducing new

nationality laws in the near future that will include changes in

citizenship on the lines set out in the Green Faper.

2. The Governors of the Dependent Territories were unanimous in

deploring a proposed change that would give their citizens second-

class status. As a result, Home Office officials agreed to recom-

mend to their Ministers the introduction of a third category of

citizenship for those with the right of abode in a British Dependent

Territory. No decision has yet been reached on a title for this

third category. All territories except Hong Kong would be prepared

to accept something on the lines "British Citizen of [Gibraltar,

Montserrat etc.]".

3. The Governor of Hong Kong, however, has argued strongly that

Hong Kong British citizens should be allowed to retain their present

title, "Citizen of the UK and Colonies". He believes that any change

would be interpreted in Hong Kong as a deliberate attempt to weaken

the links between the UK and Hong Kong, as a preliminary to an ulti-

mate British withdrawal. The resulting uncertainty could under-mine

CONFIDENTIAL

/confidence