TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 79

CONFIDENTIAL

iii)

the implications of limiting transmission of

citizenship by descent to one generation only.

iv) the limitation of categories who might be equated

with Crown Servants (e.g. EEC and UN agency

officials).

The most controversial provision in the 1977 Green Paper

nationality and that which causes most difficulty for the

O is the one which provides for two basic citizenships:-

British Citizenship, for those with right of abode in

the United Kingdom; and

i)

ii) British Overseas Citizenship, for the remainder.

he purpose of this provision is to distinguish persons who

elong to the United Kingdom from those who do not, for

mmigration purposes. Since the publication of the Green

aper there have been strong protests from Hong Kong,

ibraltar and the Falkland Islands objecting to their

citizens being given what is, by the very terminology, a

second-class status. Furthermore, they object to being

lumped together with those who have no right of abode either

in the United Kingdom or a dependency. A summary of the

objections from these dependencies, each of which considers

itself to be a special case, is given at Annex B.

, ་ ་ ་

5. These objections to the creation of British Overseas

Citizenship have been communicated to the Home Office from

time to time - and the Governor of Hong Kong communicated his

views in person during his recent visit - but the Home Office

officials concerned have continued to work within the guide-

lines laid down by the Green Paper.

6.

If the Home Office view prevails, and a status called

British Overseas Citizenship is imposed as presently envisaged it will lead to a grave deterioration of HMG's relations With

/the

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