TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 125

9.

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damage to confidence would be caused by allowing people in Hong Kong to retain the present title. Since by far the greatest number of those who will be affected live in Hong Kong, I believe we should give due weight to this view, even if it does mean leaving things rather less clear cut than we would ideally want them to be."

The draft could then go on to propose the Ministerial meeting if that is what you decide should be done.

10. Finally, I should like to see paragraph 1(b) of your draft Annex I recast as follows:-

"(b) the Legislative and Executive Councils in Hong Kong have expressed the fear that because the great majority of those who would fall into the British Overseas Citizen category live in Hong Kong, the change would be seen by people in the Territory as aimed deliberately at them. It would be interpreted as a weakening of Britain's ties with Hong Kong. could possibly damage business confidence in the Territory and would certainly harm UK/Hong Kong relations."

This

3 July 1979

RJT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

сс

Mr Duggan, SAmD Mr Gordon, SED Mr Holmes, WIAD

Mr Cook, SPD

Mr Percival, MCD

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