TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 12

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Copies to:-

MIPT: NATIONALITY LAW

1.

Ministers favour the use of the terms proposed in the Green Paper for those categories (a) and (c) in paragraph 3 of MIPT. Those with the right of abode in the UK would accordingly become British Citizens, and those without connections with any UK territory would become British Overseas Citizens.

2. The title to be used for those whose UK nationality derives from their connection with a dependent territory is more difficult. We recognise that there would be loca advantages, particularly in Hong Kong, if the present title of Citizen of the UK and Colonies could be

returned for people in this category. But as the purpose of the Bill is to split the present citizenship retention of the title would be inaccurate and misleading. Possibl alternatives now under consideration are:-

a) Citizen of UK Colonies.

This might have attractions for some dependent territories because of its similarity to the

/present