TNAG-0903-FCO40-1113-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 3

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

неазно HKK 340/1. 340/1

(154.

(Separate copies to:-)

Mr Quantrill HKGD

-

Mr Holmes WIAD

Mr Perceval

No

PA

RZUR

! RES/BY

Acuan Ton

MCD

'

2

Mr Duggan

SAMD

Mr Gordon

SED

Mr Pettit SPD

LAST PAPER

Mr Figg Mr Murray)

for info

NEW NATIONALITY LAW: COLONIAL CITIZENSHIP

1.

Following discussion Home Office officials have agreed to recommend to Ministers that there should be 3 categories of citizenship in the new law so as to provide for a separate category for colonial belongers. No conclusion has however been reached between us on what title to recommend for the colonial category. Attached is a draft paper which the Home Office have sent to us for comments which sets out their view. We would not agree with some of the argumentation in the paper; for example, we think it underestimates the importance of their status as opposed to the style of their passport and we think it over-states the need to separate the name of the colony to which a person belongs from the collective name for colonial belongers when it is shown in a passport. We shall take up these points with the Home Office at the appropriate time: the purpose of this minute is to seek your agreement to the attached draft telegram asking Governors for their views. The telegram is, I believe, self-explanatory but I should be glad to enlarge on it by telephone if necessary.

21 December 1979

CONFIDENTIAL

agray

A V E Gray NTD