TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 144

SR 11 (Revised)

DRAFT:

CONFIDENTIAL

minute/letter/teleletter/despatch/note

FROM:

Sir E Youde

DEPARTMENT:

TEL. NO:

TYPE: Draft/Final 1+

Reference

ECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

Your Reference

!

op Secret

P J Woodfield Esq CB CBE Home Office

ecret

50 Queen Annes Gate

onfidential

London SW1

Copies to:

estricted

SUBJECT:

nclassified

RIVACY MARKING

.In Confidence

1.

AVEAT..............

closures-flag(s).

*

NATIONALITY BILL: HONG KONG

As you are probably aware Mr Blaker spoke to Mr Raison

on 20 May about two points the Hong Kong Unofficial Members

of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) have

been pressing for. These are that the nationality status

in their passports should be described as 'British or

UK national' as well as Citizen of the British Dependent

Territories (CBDTs) and that Ministers reiterate in

Parliament Mr Luce's statement in Committee on 28 April

that CBDTs would remain British Nationals (in the limited

sense explained by Mr Luce at the time including no right

of entry or abode in the UK). I understand that Mr Raison

rejected the first point but did agree to consider the

second one.

2. I am writing to you now to keep you informed of recent

developments. The Governor has explained robustly to

UMELCO why HMG cannot accept their suggestions that

British Nationality be defined in the Bill to include

inter alia CBDTs and that their nationality status in

their passports be described as British or UK National.

I believe that UMELCO have accepted, if reluctantly, these

explanations pending the outcome of the Third reading.

/This

CONFIDENTIAL

EA OF RIBESI75 1826 1261/NY