TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 87

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could hold British passports. But it would not, of course, give the

right of entry to the United Kingdom. The status could not be passed

This device, however, would not be in accordance with our general

idea of what is right for British Overseas Citizenship, that is that it

on.

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should be limited to people who are now our citizens but have no

connection with the United Kingdom or a colony and that it should not

(save for wives) be acquired by additional people after the date on

which the new Act comes into force.

Summary

10.

It is suggested that the proposals already made deal adequately with the

position of people who go abroad for short terms and have their children born

overseas. The difficulty lies with people who have a long tradition of overseas

service and at the moment, in foreign countries, are able to pass their

citizenship on. The fact that citizenship will in future descend in the female

line will help many of these people; but apart from this, the ability to pass

on British status, which could readily be accorded in 1948 when there was no

real immigration problem, can no longer be so generously given because of the

inevitable consequence that concessions would be exploited to add enormously

to the liability of the United Kingdom to accept people for settlement.

Home Office

August, 1979