TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 100

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CONFIDENTIAL

[28]

West Indies; and the remainder who obtained their citizenship either by connection with former colonies which when they became independent did not

other confer the new citizenship on them, or by some previous overseas connection with the United Kingdom.

26. The previous Government concluded that the best arrangement (for dealing with such people would be to make all of them British Overseas Citizens. There are Every good arguments in favour of this proposal; there would be the

and

common factor that all of the people concerned Jack a eloce connection with the United Kingdom but are connected with its previous overseas acitivities]

was between the two categories it would be possible to prescribe differing rights to pass on citizenship

so that in the long term one would achieve the aim of limiting British

Overseas Citizenship to people connected with remaining colonies.

27.

The Government are however impressed with the argument, supported by some

correspondents, that citizenship ought to give positive recognition to the

dependencies status of the remaining colonies. Our overseas dependencies are decreasing

two colonies, as well as the remaining protectorate and two Associated States in the West Indies, have achieved full independence since

the Green Paper was published. But

in number:

dependent territories remain,

plus 2 Associated States for which the United Kingdom has some responsibility. A list of these territories, showing their populations, is at Appendix C.

It has been suggested in a number of quarters that some colonies should have 8 their own citizenships, and this view is supported in some of the colonies

themselves.

28. The Government do not think it is really practicable to establish individual citizenships for each of the dependent territories, which vary in size, expectation and political organisation.

E

and the Gorsement

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Licht

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But they think that a good case can be made for etablishing a citizenship-

for the colonies as a whole, and Although the views expressed are not

unanimous, there has been considerable support for the establishment of such

for the dipendencied of a citizenships The Government will propose in the Bill that there shall be a separate citizenship. The most suitable title for those people who have close connections with the remaining dependent territories might be Citizens

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