TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 42

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115

COPY

GPSIYS

CONFIDENHAL

FM HONG KONG M11 0387

CONFIDEN MAL

er 79

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 340

NO.1421 OF 11 OCTOBER,

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

FOR MURRAY.

YOUR TELNO.801 : NATIONALITY BILL.

1.

THE POSSIBILITIES CONSIDERED BY UMELCO WERE:-

2.

(1)

(11)

NO CHANGE IN THE PRESENT NOMENCLATURE, I.E CITIZEN OF

THE U.K AND COLONIES:

CITIZEN OF THE U.K AND COLONIES (HONG KONG) :

(111) BRITISH CITIZEN (HONG KONG)

(IV) BRITISH (HONG KONG) CITIZEN:

(V) CITIZEN OF U.K DEPENDENCIES (HONG KONG) AND

(VI) CITIZEN OF U.K COLONIES (HONG KONG).

THE STRONG PREFERENCE WAS FOR (1), OR IF SOME CHANGE IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL (11).

3.

IT WAS REQUESTED THAT THE PRESENT PREFIX BRITISH SUBJECT'

SHOULD BE RETAINED.

THE FALL-BACK PREFERENCES WERE (111) AND (IV).

Maj

4.

5.

6.

THERE WAS A DEFINITE DISTASTE FOR (V) AND (VI) - OBVIOUSLY THEY ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO A NOMENCLATURE THAT, IF IT MUST BE A CHANGE FROM THE PRESENT ONE (OR SOMETHING VERY LIKE IT) EMPHASIZES THE BRITISH NATURE OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS.

ALL ATTACHED MUCH MORE IMPORTANCE TO SECURING A SEPARATE CATEGORY FOR RESIDENTS OF DEPENDENCIES THAN TO THE ACTUAL

NOMENCLATURE.

MACLEHOS R

FILES

ARGO (4)

NXD

MR CORM ZZI

MR. MÜRRAY MR FIGG

CONFIDENTAL