TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 186

1

Mr Jones

HKK 340/1

CONFIDENTIAL

Nationality and Treaty Department

NEW BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW

F

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

18 FEB 1980

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

No

NIR

PA

RAMR 2012

Actipa Lest

1. Thank you for your minute of 6 February covering a draft submission. I apologise for the delay in commenting.

2. While I can see the logic in asking FCO Ministers simply to pronounce on the question of the retention of 'CUKC⚫ I do not think that this would do sufficient justice to the views of Hong Kong, or enable the Governor to convince his EXCO that we had given due weight to their concerns.

3.

Taking account of the representations which Hong Kong visitors (eg Sir Y K Kan) have made to FCO Ministers, and the recent strong expression of views in EXCO, we must be able to tell Hong Kong that FCO Ministers have made Hong Kong views known to their Home Office opposite numbers before we go back to them. Since the Private Secretary's letter to the PS/Home Secretary of 23 July 1979, discussions between FCO and the Home Office have all been at

official level.

4.

We would thus like our Ministers to ask the Home Office to look seriously at ways of meeting Hong Kong's interest in making as little change a spossible in the title for their citizens. One possible approach would be the retention of the prefix "British Subject" for all three categories of citizenship,

5. I suggest that this question could best be resolved at a meeting chaired by Mr Cortazzi and attended by Mr Figg, as well as our two departments. I attach a short draft note which might serve to set out the issues for discussion. I would certainly welcome a decision on the next steps in order to give me a line in discussing the question during my visit to Hong Kong next week.

Than

R D Clift

13 February 1980

Hong Kong and General Department

CONFIDENTIAL