TNAG-1025-FCO40-1275-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1981 — Page 148

CONFIDENTIAL

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NOMENCLATURE (Defensive)

4

Home Secretary has carefully considered all suggestions.

Must maintain proposed title of CRDT: This separate citizenship

was created mainly following strong representations from Hong Kong.

[If pressed] Unanimity amongst all parties in UK on dissolution of

present unitary form of citizenship (CUKC) and need to avoid

possibility that new citizenship structure or titles might give

similarity between British Citizenship and other forms of citizenship.

Retention of CUKC or use of 'British (Hong Kong) Citizen' or titles

of 'British Subject' or 'British National' not acceptable. Involles intricacies of international law.

CITIZENSHIP FOR WIVES (Defensive)

5.

Not possible to give automatic right of British Citizenship

to CBDT wives or husbands without undermining Government's position

on citizenship by marriage for all categories.

[If pressed]

Government have given no promise that there would be no change in

the entitlements of CBDTs under the Bill.

SEPARATE CITIZENSHIP (Defensive)

6.

No intention to press separate citizenship on Hong Kong or

any other dependency. Believe most dependencies will want to stay in CBDT rather than have separate citizenship. Separate citizenship

mainly change of title from CBDT to 'Citizen of the British

Dependent Territory of X'. But idea attractive to many in UK who want to link citizenship with rights, particularly right of abode. If Government decide under pressure to make provision for separate citizenship, will take Hong Kong's special circumstances into account.

/EC COMMON

CONFIDENTIAL