TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 160

CONFIDENTIAL

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HR 340/1

RECEIVED IN BEATTY NO. 51 26 MAY 1981

267

PA

Išetion Teset

GRS 923

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 22010JZ

FII FCO 21190OZ MAY 31

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 403 OF 21 MAY 01

INDEX

ملل

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MIPT: NATIONALITY BILL: HONG KONG: SUPPLEMENTARY BRIEFING

1. YOU MAY FIND IT HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING

IN DISCUSSION WITH UNOFFICIALS.

CONSULTATION WITH AND CONCESSIONS TO HONG KONG

2. (I) AT EVERY STAGE (BEFORE AND AFTER ISSUE OF WHITE PAPER

AND BEFORE AND AFTER ISSUE OF BILL) CONSULTATION WITH HONG

KONG HAS BEEN MUCH MORE INTENSIVE THAN WITH ANY OTHER

INTERESTED PARTY. HONG KONG LEADERS HAVE SEEN LORD CARRING-

TON, IR WHITELAY AND MR RAISON, ETC.

(II)

STRONG REPRESENTATIONS FROM HONG KONG ABOUT THE TWO

CATEGORY PROPOSAL IN THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT'S GREEN PAPER

PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN THE CREATION OF THE SEPARATE

CITIZENSHIP FOR THE DEPENDENCIES TO MARK THEIR CONTINUING

CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH THE UK.

(III) CBDT STATUS HAS BEEN DEFENDED VIGOROUSLY BY MINISTERS

IN THE HOUSE AS PROPER FOR ALL THE DEPENDENCIES AGAINST

STRONG PARLIAMENTARY CRITICISM THAT IT WAS ONLY TO PLACATE

HONG KONG THAT THE GOVERNMENT OPPOSED THE INCORPORATION

INTO BRITISH CITIZENSHIP OF CERTAIN OTHER DEPENDENCIES.

(IV) THE NEW BILL, IN DEFINING THESE CATEGORIES OF

CITIZENSHIP, WHICH COINCIDE WITH THE PRESENT IMMIGRATION

LAWS OF THE UK, IS NOT MATERIALLY AFFECTING THE STATUS OF

HONG KONG CUKCS. THE DIVISION OF THE PRESENT CITIZENSHIP

OF THE BEGIM UNDERLINING UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES CEASE

UNDERLINING (NB NOT CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BEGIN

UNDERLINING TOUT COURT CEASE UNDERLINING) INTO A CITIZEN-

SHIP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND A CITIZENSHIP OF THE

-

COLONIES WHICH MINISTERS HAVE DESCRIBED AS PARALLEL

CITIZENSHIPS CANNOT REASONABLY BE REGARDED AS CARRYING

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See

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78

1982

See HKK340/1

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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