TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 177

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that the Government opposed the incorporation into British citizenship of certain other dependencies. (iv) The new Bill, in defining three categories of

citizenship, which coincide with the present immigration laws of the UK is not materially affecting the status of Hong Kong citizens. The division of the present citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies (NB not citizenship of the United Kingdom tout court) into a citizenship of the United Kingdom and a citizenship of the Colonies

which Ministers have described as parallel citizenships cannot reasonably be regarded as carrying with it the dire consequences alleged in recent telegrams.

3.

v) Certain concerns expressed by Hong Kong Crown

Servants about the need to leave a loophole for

registration at the Home Secretary's discretion

and also stating a preference for a registration

rather than a naturalisation procedure for those

who have gained right of abode in the UK, were

taken on board by the Government, and passed in Parliament, albeit with some difficulty, as Government amendments. In giving a status which

would carry with it the right of abode in the UK,

and applying this to other than Crown Servants

the Bill now gives benefits not enjoyed in

current legislation.

On the question of nationals. There has never been

any doubt in our minds that the people of the existing

dependencies are nationals of the UK in the international

law sense of the term used by Mr Luce and I am glad

that the Unofficials now appear to accept that. Ministers

have also made it clear in Committee that BOCs and other

categories will continue to receive consular assistance,

and that must apply, a fortiori, to the people from

existing dependencies. I trust that the Unofficials

accept that too, now, and I would stress that it has

never been doubted elsewhere.

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