CONFIDENTIAL
BRITISH NATIONALITY WHITE PAPER : ESSENTIAL FACTS
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S COMMENTS
1.
Home Office working on draft Bill. Hong Kong Government
have sent in detailed comments on White Paper. They accept
change reluctantly. But still considerable concern at apparent
distancing of UK from Dependencies. Two political points.
DEFINITION OF CROWN SERVANTS
2.
Hong Kong Government wish all British citizens in their
employ to be included in definition of Crown Servant in the Act.
This would put them on a par with the Diplomatic Service. Those
in HMOCS will probably be covered. The others may be more
difficult but we sympathise and are pursuing with the Home Office.
LOCAL HONG KONG ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
3.
These officers, because of the political nature of their
work, are concerned about their families' future in the event
of a Chinese take-over of Hong Kong. They have asked, through
their Staff Association, that the Act should provide for them
to be granted full British citizenship. A small number of senior
local officers in the Police would also be involved.
4.
It is clearly impossible to meet their request in terms
of the proposed legislation. But some form or reassurance is
necessary.
Hong Kong and General Department
30 October 1980
CONFIDENTIAL
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