TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 142

CONFIDENTIAL

illustration. There are other possibilities; one might, perhaps make it as brief as "CUKC (UK)", "CUKC (Hong Kong)",

etc.

I said

3. I asked Mr Lee in the Home Office whether this possibility has been considered. He said that it was considered in the early days and discarded by him. that I too would have discarded it then in preference for new titles, but if it is decided that we must avoid creating the problem Hong Kong describe it might be worth looking at this possibility again alongside what has so far been put forward by Hong Kong. I said that I had not consulted Hong Kong Department and I was not sure what the reaction of the Governor might be; but I could not see why he should object strongly, for it meant that the title CUKC was being retained and in a much more logical way, and what was being added was simly a different way of denoting immigration status into the UK - a difference which is already acknowledged in other ways.

4. Mr Lee said he would look again at the proposal but was obviously not attracted to it. Speaking off the cuff, he thought that if we were to move along similar lines he thought that the retention of the title "British Subject" to cover the same three categories only might be preferable. (The retention of this title might have advantages in other ways but I am not sufficiently familiar with the subject to say positively.) This would mean that instead of dropping altogether the title of "British Subject" which is at present synonymous with 'Commonwealth citizens we would retain it for the three categories mentioned above only. The Governor of Hong Kong might be able to present this as the retention of the common status of these three groups only just as effectively as he could present the retention of the title "CUKC" for the same purpose.

5.

One objection that Mr Lee raised to the retention of the umbrella title of "CUKC", was that there was already to be an umbrella title of "Commonwealth Citizen" for these three groups plus all citizens of other Commonwealth countries. However, I think it is unlikely that the use of the term "Commonwealth Citizen" will be widespread and that it would not present complications if it were felt that the retention of CUKC as an umbrella title for the three groups would otherwise be a satisfactory solution. I do not think that the retention of the term "British Subject" as an alternative to serve the same purpose is quite as logical, but I would accept that it is a much more used and preferred term by the man in the street than CUKC.

6.

I should be grateful if you would let me know whether

/you

CONFIDENTIAL