TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 119

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TER TIC

call in question The present position in l Hory Kom would

be politially an herand for then

An alternative to "Brinis subject" could fenome the same purpose.

the least risk of causing problems with other countries is 'British Dependent Territories Citizen' of 'Citizen of the British Dependent Territories'.

However, Governors of the major dependencies have represented that this title could cause strong resentment and serious problems locally. Local feeling is that they should retain the same status and title as UK belongers. If that is not possible - and it is impossible if the new Act is to create a distinctive citizenship for the UK, it is important to the

and to show a clear link with the UK. dependencies to make only the minimum change possible. The Governor of Hong Kong in particular fears that any change in title which suggests distancing of UK from Hong Kong could seriously upset the commercial and political confidence in the territory on which Hong Kong's stability depends. [Any action which ran this risk/for the same reason be resented

would

by China.] China would also be

such

move by

h

↑

would also be concerned partly by similas

because Dauphing which appeared. reasons and partly because laughing The FCO view is that it would go a long way towards meeting

legitimate fears in the dependencies if the title 'British Subject' were retained, in addition to whatever citizenship title they have, to link UK-belongers and Colonial belongers and preferably British Overseas Citizens as well. This could make the change in citizenship just presentable in the dependencies. The FCO believe that this could be done without destroying the principal purposes of the Act. In normal usage, as now, the title that would

most commonly be used would be the Citizenship title and not the prefix 'British Subject'. The FCO believe that this

usage of the term British Subject in this sense is not only possible but much more logical than its present usage as a synonym for Commonwealth Citizen.

The result of such a scheme would be the following citizen-

ship categories to replace the present Citizen of the UK

and Colonies! estesory

British Subject: British (or UK) Citizen

British Subject: British Dependent Territories Citizen

British Subject: British Overseas Citizen

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