TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 188

I

CONFIDENTIAL

(In varying degrees this objection would apply also to

'British Citizen of Hong Kong', 'British (Hong Kong)

Citizen' and 'British Citizen (Hong Kong)'.

But this

difficulty could be reduced if designations mentioning

Hong Kong were only used as an administrative local

variant of a generalised category. A representative pair

of examples if:

3.

a) Category Citizen of the British Dependent

Territories'.

b) Variant British (Hong Kong) Citizen'.

Since 23 July 1979 when the Private Secretary wrote

to the PS/Home Secretary, the Secretary of State has

discussed the question on 1 November 1979 with the

leading unofficial. member of the Executive Council,

Sir Y K Kan. Lord Carrington then expressed sympathy

with Hong Kong's interest in emphasising the UK connection.

It is clear that, although Hong Kong Unofficial Members put

first priority on achieving the third citizenship cate-

gory, they are still extremely concerned at the prospect

of a change in nomenclature.

4. The main question for immediate decision is the

order of our next moves, with Hong Kong and the Home

Office. Two courses have been suggested by NTD and

HKGD respectively:

a) to recommend to FCO Ministers that Hong Kong

be told now that the retention of CUKC is out of

the question but that we will pursue with the Home

Office other ways in which their preoccupations

can be met.

CONFIDENTIAL

/b)

C