TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 203

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

twent

consultation)

CONFIDENTIAL

have been weakened; and it is likely that a strong

Parliamentary lobby will be organised to press their

claim. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office however are

not disposed to suggest any change in this respect.

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2

it was a wam'mous UMELCO

view though of course marily

hiverest b) Similarly in Hong Kong some influential Chinese

members of the Governor's Advisory Council have urged,

with some support from the Hong Kong Government, that

to alter the citizenship of people connected with Hong

Kong in a way which will be seen as further weakening

their ties with the United Kingdom will have a serious

effect on business confidence in the Colony. It is

clear that they bitterly resented the action taken in

1962 to remove the right of entry to the United Kingdom

from them. It is however to be noted that these people

are of the wealthy business and professional classes

and perhaps represent only a small portion of Hong Kong

opinion. Spokesmen on their behalf may be expected to

raise their case in Parliament during the passage of

the Bill; but apart from the serious immigration

implications for the United Kingdom the fundamental

Foreign Office objection to making them British Citizens

is that it might affect our relations with the Chinese

People's Republic during negotiations in the next few

years on the lease of the New Territories.

This in a very dauge om ansumpter to make Silence was thought to indicate a with hot to much about it or stimulate discouraging discussia miik

c) Some disquiet has also been voiced by people in this

country concerned with the interests of the Falkland

Islanders, most of whom are descended from people born

in the United Kingdom.

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