TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 145

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DSR 11C

c) [British Subject] Citizen of the British Dependent

Territories (Hong Kong) or British Dependent

Territories Citizen (Hong Kong).

Comment. These follow naturally from (b). They come

nearest to describing the position that would be

created by the Act; they would preserve the link

especially if 'British Subject" is retained and they

would include the name of the dependency, while

indicating that the citizenship is a collective one

shared with all dependencies. I would urge the Home

Secretary to accept this which is the FCO's preference

from your selection and close variants.

d) [British Subject]: British (Hong Kong) Citizen.

[British Subject]: British Citizen (Hong Kong).

Comment. These were preferences 3 and 4 mentioned in

your telno 1421 of 11 October. We think that if

"British Subject" is reintroduced as a collective

title it might be necessary, so as not to create

confusion between British Subject and British Citizen,

to abandon the term " British Citizen " in the Act

even for UK belongers.

There is also HMA Peking's

point that these too can convey the impression of a

separate citizenship for Hong Kong, though not so much

as "Citizen of Hong Kong " We do not therefore

•

favour these terms if "British Subject" is reintrod-

uced. If, however, "British Subject" cannot be

restored British (Hong Kong) Citizen would be a

possible alternative to Citizen of the British

Dependent Territories (Hong Kong).

e) [British Subject]: Citizen of the UK Colonies.

Comment. This has been put to the Home Office and /rejected

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