TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 97

We think this might be achieved by a small

amendment towards the end of the Bill to provide that a citizen of the British Dependent Territories

could also be described in a passport as a 'British Dependent Territories citizen' and that at the discretion of the issuing authority the name of

the colony might be substituted for the words

'Dependent Territories'. Such an amendment would

have to be permissive rather than mandatory so that dependencies could adopt the formula or not as their

circumstances dictated. This proposal does not,

we think, damage, the category of CBDT, and it does

to seem worth serious consideration because the

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alternative of. having to deal with an amendment not of our choosing, with no certain prospect of success, is inelegant and would diminish the very limited time available in parliament for other

important aspects in the final stages of the

Bill.

The quid pro quo would be that Hong Kong and the Hong Kong lobby would refrain from promoting rival amendments, particularly ány which had

nationality implications. The means for introducing

our own amendment into the Lords could be

}

considered nearer the time, perhaps after soundings with Lord Geddes and other relatively sympathetic champions of Hong Kong. The aim, as I have said, would be to avoid unnecessary friction over the Hong Kong issue which could hold up the final

stages of the Bill.

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