TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 120

HKCK 340ll

RECEIVED

ERY D. 51

? JUN 1981

CONFIDENTIAL

PA

REGISTRY Action Tako

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

TOP COP

13715 1

283

178

00 HONG KONG DESKE

GRS 612

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 09010OZ

FM FCO 08141OZ JUNE 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 518 OF 8 JUNE.

FOR GOVERNOR

MIPT:

1.

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL

REPLY TO SIR S Y CHUNG'S LETTER: 270 'THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 22 MAY.

See (302)

See HAK 340|1

THE GOVERNOR HAS SINCE TOLD YOU THAT I PUT TO THE HOME SECRETARY YOUR PROPOSAL FOR A NEW CLAUSE PROVIDING FOR THE

RETENTION OF BRITISH NATIONALITY' BY CBDTS, AND THAT HE FOUND

IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCEPT. THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO SET OUT THE

REASONS. THESE ARE SO STRONG THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS

ANY CHANCE OF SUCH A CLAUSE BEING ACCEPTED: OR THAT THERE WOULD

BE ANY POINT IN PRESSING THE CASE FURTHER.

I THINK YOU HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE TERM

'BRITISH SUBJECT' OR 'BRITISH NATIONAL' NOT APPEARING ON PASS-

PORTS IN FUTURE (WHETHER OF BRITISH CITIZENS OR OF CITIZENS OF

BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES). THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE RIGHT

OR COMMITMENT OF HMG TO REPRESENT CBDTS INTERNATIONALLY OR THEIR

READINESS TO HELP WITH THEIR ENTRY INTO THIRD COUNTRIES. THAT

THE HOLDER WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE

FROM BRITISH CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES WILL BE CLEARLY INDICATED

BY THE TITLE BRITISH PASSPORT AND THE DESCRIPTION 'CITIZEN OF

THE NEXT WORD UNDERLINED BRITISH DEPENDENT

TERRITORIES'. I CAN APPRECIATE THAT THE OMISSION OF THIS LONG-

USED NATIONALITY DESCRIPTION MAY HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT.

I CAN ONLY ASSURE YOU THAT IT HAS NO PRACTICAL ONE AND NO

EFFECT ON THE COMMITMENT OF HMG, AND I DO TRUST THAT YOU AND

YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO IMPRESS THIS

FACT ON ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SHARE YOUR CONCERN.

/WITH REGARD

1982

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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