TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 150

CONFIDENTIAL

HIC 34011

RECEIVED IN BENTRY NO. 51 1 6 MAR 1981

DESK OFFICE" INDEX

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CONFIDENTIAL

F FCO 1317152 MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 236 OF 12 MARCH

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

NEW NATIONALITY LAW

1. RESPONSES TO THE GREEN PAPER, WHITE PAPER AND CONTRIBUTIONS

FROM MPS IN THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL SHOW ID

CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FOR SEPARATE CITIZENSHIPS FOR THE

DEPENDENCIES.

2.

OPPOSITION HAVE TABLED AN AMENDMENT TO THE NATILITY BILL

FOR A SEPARATE CITIZENSHIP FOR EACH DEPENDENCY IN PLA OF CBDT.

ONE DEPENDE ICY HAS LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THY WOULD PR PER

SEPARATE CI 'IZENSHIP FOR DEPENDENCIES. GOVERNMENT WIL OPPOSE

THE AMENDMENT, EXPANDING ON THE LINE TAKEN BY MR RAISO IN HIS

WINDING-UP SPEECH IN THE SECOND READING DEBATE THAT SE. ARATE

CITIZENSHIPS WERE INAPPROPRIATE FOR CERTAIN DEPENDENCIES, NOT

DESIRED BY SOME AND COULD CAUSE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND

DIFFICULTIES (PERHAPS NEEDING TO NAME THOSE TERRITORIES AND

DIFFICULTIES IF PRESSED).

3. GOVERNMENT MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ARGUE IN AA ..PLE

ALAINST SEPARATE CITIZENSHIPS FOR ANY DEPENDENCIES. ILY ARE

CONSIDERING WHETHER THEY SHOULD INTRODUCE AN ENABLING CLAUSE INTO

THE BILL SO THAT THE HOME SECRETARY COULD BY ORDER, SI JECT TO

PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION, CREATE A SEPARATE CITIZENSE (NOT A

SEPARATE NATIONALITY) FOR AN INDIVIDUAL DEPENDENCY AF 'ER

COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW ACT IF THAT DEPENDENCY WANTED IT AND

COULD ACCEPT ALL CBDTS BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH THAT

DEPENDENCY, GIVING THEM THE RIGHT OF ABODE AND ANY OTHER CIVIC

RIGHTS APPROPRIATE TO THAT TERRITORY. SUCH CITIZENSHIPS MIGHT

BE IDENTICAL TO PROVISIONS FOR ACQUISITION OF CBDT, AND REMAIN

UNDER WESTMINSTER CONTROL. THEY STILL WOULD BE ENTIR CLY SEPARATE

FROM BRITISH CITIZENSHIP. THERE OULD BE NO PRESSURI ON ANY

DEPENDENCY TO ADOPT A SEPARATE CITIZENSHIP AND IT IS

IVISAGED

1

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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