TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 148

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a) an amendment would be put forward to give CBDTs the

right to register as British Citizens after 5 years

in the United Kingdom,

b) an amendment would be put forward to allow particular

Service to the Crown under the Government of a dependency

to count towards the residence requirement for naturalisation

or registration after the person concerned has taken up

residence in the United Kingdom,

c) urgent and sympathetic consideration was being given to

the possibility of an amendment to give the Home Secretary

discretion in the special circumstances of a particular

case to treat persons who have rendered substantial service

to the Crown under the Government of a Dependent Territory

to be regarded as satisfying the statutory requirement

for naturalisation or registration.

He would also have to explain why the Home Office was opposed to

Hong Kong's requests on nomenclature or their request for automatic

British Citizenship for wives. To the Press, he would merely say

that he had been given a very sympathetic hearing and that Ministers

had undertaken to consider how to meet Hong Kong's problems.

13 March 1981

Amelles for

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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PS/Mr Blaker

PS/Mr Luce

PS/PUS

Sir E Youde

Mr Donald

Mr Adams

Mr Jones, NTD

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