TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 108

CONFIDENTIAL

Fall-back Position

9.

The

If the Home Secretary will not accept the term British Subject for all three categories we might suggest as a compromise retaining the term for the first two categories only, ie UK belongers and colonial belongers. Linkage is really between the British

territories; British Overseas Citizens reside elsewhere.

British Overseas Citizen category is really transitional (though it

will be with us for the life-time of those British Overseas

Citizens born before the new Act comes into force). If the Home Secretary still remains unconvinced we could propose that this idea

be tried out in the White Paper.

10. I should add that Mr Cortazzi, who recently discussed our problem with the Deputy Under Secretary, Mr Woodfield, in the Home

Office, agreed this submission in draft.

28 March 1980

Copied to:

PS/LPS (with draft Background Paper)

PS/Mr Blaker

PS/PUS

Sir D Maitland

Mr Murray

Mr Fergusson

Mr Harding

Mr Stratton Miss Brooks

Mr

Bcc: Mr Clift

Mr Jones

CONFIDENTIAL

LC W Figg