CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
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5. A redraft has now been considered in the Cabinet Home Affairs Committee. This proposes a separate citizenship for the Dependent Territories. It suggests that in the Bill this should be entitled 'Citizenship of the British Dependent Territories' but words this in the conditional tense. (In passports this might be shown as, for example, 'Citizen of the British Dependent Territories (Hong Kong)').
6. The above is for your personal information (although I have told Jack Cater and Bim Davies the position.) I should stress that we have promised the Home Office not to reveal to EXCO the different positions of Ministers, nor indeed to tell them the situation until the appropriate moment. While the aim is to publish the White Paper before the Summer Recess, its text is still subject to final Ministerial approval. When this is given we will telegraph instructions on the basis of which you can brief EXCO. These will make clear that Hong Kong's views have been personally considered by FCO Ministers and conveyed by them to the Home Secretary. As
a result, a good deal has been gained (in particular the third category). There will still be an opportunity for comment after the White Paper, which moreover contains a passage reaffirming HMG's commitment to all the Dependent Territories.
7. We are planning to arrange for the text of the relevant section of the White Paper to be sent to you (as to other OAGS) in advance, although this will probably only be shortly before publication. We will keep you posted on progress on this and
other matters.
Juus
Dick
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
H
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CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
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