#gistry
0.
DRAFT
MEMORANDUM
"URITY CLASSIC
TION
To:-
Top Secret,
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
'ACY MARKING
In Confidence
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
DSR 11
HONG KONG: THE PROBLEM OF CITIZENSHIP NOMENCLATURE
1.
The Governor of Hong Kong's objections to any change in the present title of CUKC for Hong Kong Chinese reflect extensive consultations with officials in the Hong Kong Government and other advisers whose views can be taken to represent those of the Hong Kong people as a whole. The previous history of Hong Kong is such that confidence in Britain's visible support for the Colony is crucial to the maintenance of stability, and on this depend the Colony's Livelihood and hopes for greater prosperity in the future. The people of Hong Kong have been encouraged by the most recent developments in their relations with the Mainland, particularly the statement by the Chinese Vice Premier that investors in the Colony could have confidence in the future; and it is particularly important that nothing be done by the British Government to shake this. In the eyes of Hong Kong Chinese the continuing link with the United Kingdom is a guarantee of their society's survivial in its present form and any change in their status would have the most far-reaching .consequences. Although the proposed alteration of nomenclature does not signify any change in the status of British passport holders who are Hong Kong belongers, in the Governor's view it will be virtually impossible to persuade them that there is no ulterior motive behind it.. Any change which was believed to weaken the connection between Hong Kong and the UK as such would be interpreted as a weakening of support for the Colony as a whole; and the Governor is seriously concerned about the reactions that a change in nomenclature would bring. The Governor's advice is that the immediate assumption would
/be
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