TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 29

Hong Kong's Requirements

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3. Sir E Youde pointed out that Hong Kong's requirements were of two kinds. The first, the request for the designation of Hong Kong residents as British (Hong Kong) Citizens, ran counter to the basic purpose of the Bill which was to equate citizenship with right of abode. The other requests dealt more with the arrangements for the acquisition of British Citizenship by CBDTS. Although still difficult, this should be easier to negotiate. In addition, there were some points affecting the acquisition and transmission of citizenship of the Dependent Territories, eg the rights of widows and divorcees, which were not exclusive to Dependent Territories and affected all parts of the Bill.

Tactics with the Home Office

4.

It was agreed that Home Office officials could go no further in discussion without specific authority from Ministers. Moreover it had been agreed at the official talks that no further decisions would be taken until after the Governor had seen the Home Secretary. The Governor said that he had in mind proposing to Mr Whitelaw that a working party be set up with a directive to cover the details of a number of points. He would find it helpful to have a paper which he could show to Lord Carrington setting out what he had in mind to put to Mr Whitelaw. This would explain Hong Kong's problems, outline their requests and ask that officials be directed urgently to work out amendments on the problems of Crown Servants and other areas.

5. It was agreed to draft such a paper immediately. Further discussion focussed on how to meet Hong Kong's interests on the Crown Service question without putting demands on the Home Office which would appear to open the door to increased immigration. The presentational point was important here. If Ministers, in defending an amendment, put the numbers involved in the thousands they would run into serious political opposition. If they spoke of hundreds there would be difficulties in Hong Kong. It was agreed that as far as possible numbers should not be mentioned and that the focus should be on the need for the Home Secretary to have discretion to deal with individual cases rather than to take account of a future situation in particular territories. It might help to use such a phrase as 'substantial service' rather than referring to 'Crown Service' as such.

Acquisition of Citizenship by Wives and by Birth

6. It was agreed that it was very unlikely that any concessions could be obtained for the acquisition of citizenship by wives

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