TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 25

CONFIDENTIAL

level. Home Office think it would be difficult to

administer and could be abused. Their arguments on

both counts are in my view weak. A more powerful

argument would be that introduction of the principle

of up-grading citizenship could undermine the main

proposed defence against the immigration of male

fiances and husbands from the Indian sub-continent.

Home Office have not raised this point, but I think

it is valid and compelling. But if the proposed immigration rule on male fiances/husbands were to

change, this scheme would be a possibility.

General Comment

General Comment

5. The Home Office fear that transmission of citizenship to

It is this that motivates them rather

I think the

the second generation would somehow be exploited by the

immigrant communities.

than a belief that the present level of immigration from the

second generation born overseas is intolerable.

conclusions that the Home Office draw are not wholly rational.

For their fears to be realised it would first require a move- ment out of the UK from the ethnic communities, probably even

those born in the UK, and a movement back to the UK of their

grand-children born overseas. I see no reason to suppose that

the children born in the UK of immigrant families will move bad

to their parents' county of origin (or elsewhere) in any

significant numbers, nor should that happen

CONFIDENTIALA

-

why two /generations