TNAG-0980-FCO40-1199-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 262

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4. The Lord Privy Seal suggested that if the Home Secretary could not agree to include the phrase in the White Paper, the relevant sections of the document might be made "greener" in order to emphasise that the question of nomenclature remained undecided and to give people in the Dependent Territories more chance to comment. The Home Secretary agreed and Mr Woodfield said that indeed the whole paper would be fairly green. He mentioned in this context the introduction of the third category of citizenship.

5. The Home Secretary expressed concern as to whether a concession to Hong Kong now might lead to trouble in 1997 with more people claiming the right to come to Britain. The Lord Privy Seal emphasised that there was no question of Hong Kong looking for a back door to Britain in this way.

6. It was agreed that there should be no reference in the White Paper to the use of "British Subject" as a prefix but that officials should agree on a re-phrasing of the section on Dependent Territories nomenclature which would make clear that the whole question remained open for discussion.

Distribution:

PS/LPS PS/M Luce Mr Adams

Mr Gray NTD

Mr Clift HKGD

PS

PS/PUS

PS/Mr Blaker Mr Donald

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