TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 17

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8.

(f) possibly in other cases where there are demonstrably

close links with the UK. (This would be a dis-"

cretionary provision to be used only in exceptional circumstances, for the Home Office at present are ^^ unwilling to apply present discretionary provisions) where the child continues to reside overseas.)

These provisions would probably cater for the vast majority of the people on whose behalf representations have been made in response to the Green Paper. It would, however, mean that in other cases transmission of citizenship beyond the first generation for British families living in foreign and Commonwealth countries will cease. Some would no doubt regret this and resent it. Members of the Service will know from their own experience (and from the fact that their own children born overseas before the introduction of the new Act would only be able to transmit their citizenship to their children born overseas in the circumstances described above) that it is extremely difficult to provide for all deserving cases by definitions on these lines. But it has not been argued that those of the second generation who would not acquire citizen- ship under such a provisions would suffer hardship thereby; nor

do I think that HMG's interests overseas need suffer in con-

sequence despite the comment by HM Consul General, Paris. (Annex B.)

CONFIDENTIAL