TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 85

CONFIDEN TI AL

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4.

OTHERS. GIVEN THE BASIC AIMS OF THE BILL, TO INTRODUCE THE

CONCEPT OF BRITISH NATIONAL' INTO THE LEGISLATION AT THIS

STAGE WOULD CAUSE CONFUSION AND WOULD AROUSE OPPOSITION IN

PARLIAMENT.

HOWEVER FCO MINISTERS BELIEVE THAT A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE

WOULD BE TO INTRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL CLAUSE DECLARING THAT CBDTS,

WHILE FORMING A DEFINITE CITIZENSHIP CATEGORY, COULD ALTER- NATIVELY BE DESCRIBED AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS

WITH A FURTHER OPTIONAL VARIATION OF EG BRITISH (HONG KONG) `,

CITIZEN'. SUCH A DESIGNATION COULD BE USED IN PASSPORTS OR FOR

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES. IT WOULD OF COURSE BE MADE CLEAR

THAT CBDTS WERE NOT BEING ADMITTED TO A BRANCH OF BRITISH

CITIZENSHIP.

5.

WE ARE SUGGESTING THIS TO HOME OFFICE MINISTERS WHO IF THEY

AGREE THIS FORMULA MAY PREFER TO OMIT THE BRACKETS ROUND THE

NAME OF THE TERRITORY IN THE ALTERNATIVE DESIGNATION. WE ARE

TELEGRAPHING PEKING AS TO WHETHER THIS WOULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES

WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

6. GIVEN THE POLITICAL AND PARLIAMENTARY CONSTRAINTS HERE THIS

SOLUTION SEEMS A GOOD DEAL FOR HONG KONG IF WE CAN PERSUADE HOME

OFFICE MINISTERS TO SUPPORT IT. IT IS CERTAINLY THE MOST THAT WE

CAN EXPECT TO GET IN THE POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE HAVE TO

FACE THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT GUARANTEE TO ACHIEVE EVEN THAT MUCH.

IT WILL OF COURSE BE IMPORTANT TO AVOID ANY WIRECROSSING IN THE

WAY OF LOBBYING OF LORDS OR COMMONS MEMBERS AND, IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATÉ IF A RIVAL AMENDMENT ON 'BRITISH

NATIONAL' LINES WERE INTRODUCED SINCE IT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO

BE OPPOSED BY HMG. WE MUST ON THE ONE HAND PRESERVE HMG'S

PRINCIPAL AIMS IN THE BILL, AND ON THE OTHER MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE

AMONG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG OVER HMG'S POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR THEM.

7. PLEASE TAKE NO ACTION AT THIS STAGE WITH EXCO. WE WILL

TELEGRAPH WHEN AND IF INTERDEPARTMENTAL MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT

IS REACHED, TO ENABLE YOU TO BRIEF THEM.

See

(Beth)

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HKGD

NTD

SED

SAMD

WIAD

2

PS

PS/LPS

PS/LORD TREFGARNE

MR DONALD

MR ADAMS

CONFIDENTIAL