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NATIONALITY BILL : ESSENTIAL FACTS
HONG KONG CONCERNS
1.
Distrust in Hong Kong that the United Kingdom is trying to
distance itself from the Territory. Memories of Commonwealth
Immigrants Act of 1962.
2.
Fear of being 'second class citizens'.
Psychological problems.
Revived by the discovery that the Bill could affect practical position
of Hong Kong British passport holders, particularly as regards
acquisition of British nationality,
3.
Secretary of State saw Sir S Y Chung and Mr O V Choung (Senior
Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils res-
pectively) on 2 February.
Servants and Unofficials,
Special emphasis on position of Crown
Petition by senior locally-engaged civil
servants expressing concern that Bill expressly excluded them from
naturalisation.
Governor's visit to London from 9 to 13 March.
Talks with FCO and Home Office Ministers on the minimum changes in the
Bill which Hong Kong could accept.
PROPOSED CHANGES FOR HONG KONG AND OTHER DEPENDENCIES
4.
Apart from objections to proposed titles (see Nomenclature),
Hong Kong's concerns covered registration, the position of Crown
Servants and the position of CUKC women married to British men.
Original requests at Annex A.
5.
Progress towards meeting Hong Kong's requests, except on
position of married women (see below). Wording of proposed amendments
at Annex B. These have been put to Governor and he believes them to
be generally acceptable.
6.
It is hoped that the amendments will have been tabled in
Committee by the time the Secretary of State reaches Hong Kong. However, it will be important that their successful passage is not
/prejudiced
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