TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 114

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next week to finalise the draft. I attach a copy of the one that

I have prepared: I await the Home Office's effort. The first two

paragraphs of my draft paper could be omitted if it is thought that this background is unnecessary for FCO Ministers (I think

it has some relevance since it shows that the title 'British

Subject' is being retained for certain categories in the Act

in any event).

4. The NTD view remains that though there is an argument for retaining the title 'British Subject' as a common title for at least colonial belongers and UK belongers and probably the third

category, the balance of the argument on purely nationality/

immigration terms is against retaining the title in this sense.

The argument for retaining it is essentially the political one of meeting the wishes of the colonies. The 2 objectives are

in complete opposition: the one is to distinguish clearly

between the 3 categories of citizenship for nationality/immigra-

tion purposes, and the other is to retain a link for whatever

purpose.

:

5. The political argument for the retention of British Subject or

some similar title is essentially one for departments other than

NTD. For my part I have never found the Hong Kong argument of

the dangers of not meeting local wishes consistent or convincing.

I accept that people feel strongly about citizenship and its name,

but I find it difficult to believe that without some such title

as British Subject added to their citizenship title and despite

such assurances as Ministers would give in the White Paper about

their continuing support for Hong Kong and other colonies that

the economic and political confidence of the colonies would be

damaged. I would have thought that a properly presented White

Paper with Ministerial assurances would cope with that.

6.

We may need to consider fall-back positions for the Secretary

of State if he fails to convince the Home Secretary of the need to retain British Subject in this sense. The responses from

Governors strongly suggest that a title that created a separate

citizenship for each colony or gave the impression of so doing

would come closest to meeting local wishes. We have so far

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/ruled