TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 50

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he United Kingdom and Colonies into two. Several of our

Dependent Territories have raised strong objections to this,

firstly because the new British Overseas Citizenship would be

seen as a second class citizenship, but also because Citizens

of the United Kingdom and Colonies with a direct constitutional

relationship with the British Government through their links

with Dependent Territories would be lumped together with those

who belong nowhere. The proposal is particularly sensitive

in Hong Kong because the majority of CUKCS overseas live there

but it is equally resented in Gibraltar and the Falkland

Islands. The Governor of Hong Kong explained his concerns to

Mr Raison during his recent visit to London, and Lord

Carrington was given a further indication of the strength of

feeling on this issue when he himself visited Hong Kong at the

end of last month.

5.

Lord Carrington considers that we should do what we can

to meet the concerns of the Dependent Territories. He

believes that the best way to do this is to establish a three-

tier system on the lines of that proposed by Sir M MacLebose

who suggested that the title Citizen of the United Kingdom

and Colonies be retained for those with the right of abode in

Dependent Territories, in addition to creating the two new

citizenships you have in mind. You say in your letter that

there seems to be no way in which this can sensibly be done.

However, the three-tier citizenship more ne

nearly corresponds

with the constitutional position than a two-tier system.

Lord Carrington thinks this point needs much more attention.

6. Lord Carrington is also uneasy about some of the other

provisions, including the future of British Subject status,

the implications of transmission of citizenship by descent for

/one

CONFIDENTIAL