TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 92

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NATIONALITY BILL: SECOND READING DEBATE IN THE LORDS ON 22 JUNE

HONG KONG

1.

Several Members spoke to what was clearly a Hong Kong brief about lack of definition of 'nationality'. They asked the question what does he answer to the question 'Nationality' on an immigration form. Can he put 'British'? Lord Geddes asked whether it would not be possible for his passport to remain exactly as it is except that the definition on page 1 would be British subject - Citizen of the British Dependent Territories? The real answer to the question is of course that like the other categories they should treat the word 'Nationality in this context as meaning 'citizenship'. In the same way that a UK belonger will write British citizen the colonial belonger will write eg Citizen of the British Dependent Territories: Hong Kong. That is what the Immigration Officer wants to know - and it tells him all that he wants to know.

2.

1

I do not know who had made these representations to these Members. Another Member said that he had received representations from the Government of Hong Kong that they were dissatisfied with the Bill. (I cannot immediately identify the speaker, but my recollection is that he was no more precise than that).

3. In winding up for the Opposition Lord Mischon referred to a Hong Kong Government Office release which was to the effect that there is fundamental and deep-seated anxiety in Hong Kong about the Bill. I hope that this was some old press release and not something recent. Is there any way of finding out whether this is out of date and who is making the representations about definition of nationality which were mentioned by at least three Members!

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24 June 1981

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Nationality and Treaty Department

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