TNAG-0980-FCO40-1199-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 261

CONFIDENTIAL

RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE HOME SECRETARY ON 9 JUNE 1980

NEW NATIONALITY LAW

Present

The Lord Privy Seal

Mr Richard Luce MP

Mr Adams

Mr Clift

HKK 34011

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

16 JUN 1980

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

LORD PRIVY SEAL AND THE,

us

176.6

AW 16/1

The Home Secretary

Mr Timothy Raison MP

Mr Philip Woodfield

Mr Chilcot

61

Relevant employment for Businessmen

1. The Home Secretary opened by saying that he accepted the FCO's proposal for special arrangements for businessmen, given the political support which the business community's cause was likely to muster. The Home Office still had some misgivings about the modalities, eg whether or not Crown Servants and businessmen should have the same treatment, but they accepted the FCO's proposal in principle.

Citizenship for the Dependent Territories

2. The Home Secretary recalled that the Home Office had agreed to have three rather than two separate citizenships.

This was, however, the limit of the concessions they were prepared to make and they were not prepared to concede the use of the prefix "British Subject" for citizens from Dependent Territories. whole purpose of the new legislation was to distance certain categories of people from the United Kingdom. To include the extra prefix would be inconsistent with this and he thought it reasonable to leave it out.

The

3. The Lord Privy Seal said that he understood the objections but he had very considerable doubts about the political wisdome of omitting "British Subject". The Hong Kong lobby was strong in parliament. Feeling in the territory was growing. A New Defence Costs Agreement was shortly to be negotiated, at considerable cost to Hong Kong. Uneasiness in Hong Kong was heightened as the end of the New Territories Lease in 1997 approached; this increased doubts about Britain's commitment to the territory. In view of this, he feared that if "British Subject" were omitted in the White Paper, it might be found politically necessary to put it back later. The Home Secretary, supported by Mr Raison and Mr Woodfield, reiterated their strong objection to the proposal, emphasising that they had legal advice that to include "British Subject" could be regarded as blurring the distinction between the categories and might possibly lead to legal action against the Government.

CONFIDENTIAL

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