TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 147

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG: THE PROBLEM OF CITIZENSHIP NOMENCLATURE

:. The Covernor of Hong Kong's objections to any change in the present title of CUKC for Hong Kong Chinese reflect extensive consultations with officials in the Hong Kong Government and other advisers whose views can be taken to represent those of the Hong Kong people as a whole. The previous history of Hong Kong is such that confidence in Britain's visible support for the Colony is crucial to the maintenance of stability, and on this depend the Colony's livelihood and hopes for greater prosperity in the future. The people of Hong Kong have been encouraged ty the most recent developments in their relations with the Mainland, particularly the statement by the Chinese Vice Premier that investors in the Colony could have confidence in the future; and it is particularly important that nothing be done by the British

Government to shake this. In the eyes of Hong Kong Chinese the continuing link with the United Kingdor is a a guarantee of their society's survival in its present form and any change in their status would have the most far-reaching consequences. Although the proposed alteration of nomenclature does not signify any change in the status of British passport holders who are Hong Kong belongers, in the Governor's view it will be virtually impossible to persuade them that there is no ulterior motive

behind it. Any change which was believed to weaken the connection between Hong Kong and the UK as such would be interpreted as a weakening of support for the Colony as a whole; and the Governor is seriously concerned about the reactions that a change in nomenclature would bring. His advice is that the immediate assumption would be that a change was a preliminary to a change in the actual status of Hong Kong belongers. This could only be

⚫ deliberate attempt by the British Government to distance Hong Kong and its inhabitants from the United Kingdom. This would create wide and deeply held resentment and more materially would be likely to create doubts about the Colony's future in relation

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CONFIDENTIAL

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