TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 49

CONFIDENTIAL

Copy the Suprimis 11)

history withs

cc Mr Cortazzi

Mr Figg

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Mr Stratton

Mr Fergusson

Mr Harding

Mr Aspin

Mr McLaren,

Mr W Jones NTD Mr Duff WIAD Mr Daunt SED Mr Ure SAMD Mr Robson EAD Mr Payne MCD

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HKGD

NATIONALITY BILL

F

1. I think you should see these papers. I am firmly opposed to sending Hong Kong any interim telegram giving an indication of the way in which our thinking on nomenclature has developed, as proposed by the Head of NTD. The Minister of State and I had a series of lengthy talks with Sir M MacLehose in Hong Kong last month and we saw his telegram No 1330 before despatch. Sir M MacLehose was then about to start his confidential soundings of members of EXCO and I think we should wait for some indications of thinking from Hong Kong before confusing this thinking further with suggestions of our own. We may or may not be able to agree with the Hong Kong suggestions, and may indeed have to argue them strongly with the Home Office, but this too is another matter. In the end, however, given the overwhelming preponderance of Colonial citizens in Hong Kong, compared with our remaining Dependent Territories, I am sure that - so far as nomenclature is concerned we should get something agreed which suits the Hong Kong case and then accept that it will have to be applied to the other Dependent Territories.

2. I now have to draw attention to a much more serious point, which is that we are wrong to allow ourselves to be drawn along the Home Office line of argument that a three-tier system of citizenship can only be accepted, if the nomenclature for the second category of citizenship (those who have a right of abode in a Dependent Territory) can be settled in advance. As I said in my minute to you of 19 September (and repeated in Singapore telegram No 327) I think the Home Office is trying to ignore the duty of the Government as a whole to protect the citizens of The Queen's Dependent Territories. The comment in Hong Kong telegram No 1330, about people in Colonies with a constitutional dependent status being in special relationship with HMG and the UK, reflects not

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CONFIDENTIAL