TNAG-0903-FCO40-1113-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 87

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D. DUAL NATIONALITY (PARA 61 -65 OF THE GREEN PAPER),

WE WOULD PREFER TO RETAIN THE STATUS QUO PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEX PROBLEM OF CHINESE NATIONALITY IN HONG KONG. A COMPLETE BAN ON DUAL NATIONALITY (PARA 62(1) OF THE GREEN PAPER) WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE AS IT WOULD MEAN THAT CITIZENS OF UK AND COLONIES IN HONG KONG MIGHT BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BEING BRITISH AND BEING CHINESE. A BAN ON DUAL NATIONALITY WHERE IT ARISES VOLUNTARILY (PARA 62 (11) OF THE GREEN PAPER) ALSO PRESENTS PROBLEMS BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE TO ASK CHINESE RESIDENTS

OF HONG KONG WHO APPLY FOR NATURALISATION TO RENOUNCE ANY CLAIM

TO CHINESE CITIZENSHIP AND THIS WOULD BE POLITICALLY UNDESIRABLE.

A BAN ON DUAL NATIONALITY ONLY WHERE OUR CITIZENS VOLUNTARILY ACQUIRED ANOTHER NATIONALITY (PARA 62(111) OF THE GREEN PAPER) WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE BECAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF HONG KONG CITIZENS WHO EMIGRATE OVERSEAS RETURN TO HONG KONG FOR RESIDENCE AND IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHETHER THEY VOLUNTARILY ACQUIRE ANOTHER NATIONALITY WHILST OVERSEAS. THE VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION OF FOREIGN MATIONALITY FOLLOWING MARRIAGE, AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF A LATER DIVORCE (AS MENTIONED IN PARA 65 OF THE GREEN PAPER) WOULD BE ANOTHER PROBLEM, AND PROPOCALS TO DEAL WITH IT WOULD LEAD TO COMPLICATIONS.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

MVD * wrong

SAD

CID

SPD

NAD

distribution!.

SIR E YOUDE

HR CORTAZZI MR MURRAT

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

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