TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 132

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Mr Donald

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21 OCT1021

CONFIDENTIAE

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COVERING SECRET

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849 21/10

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL : CITIZENS OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

1.

A

16/10

You are holding a meeting on this question on 16 October at 9.45 am. I suggest that the following points need to be covered.

Letter from PS/Home Secretary to PS/LPS of 13 October and Personal Telegram from Governor, Hong Kong No 933

2.

417

Given that there is no practical possibility of getting the Home Office to agree to a Government fall-back amendment to be tabled by 16 October, I think the most we can aim for is that HMG should not oppose the new amendment by Lord Geddes. I attach a draft reply from the LPS for discussion, which takes account of the Governor's telegram. This of course does not go as far as the Governor would like (his paragraph 6), but is, I suggest, politically realistic. I do not see any prospect at this stage of getting agree- ment on the use of 'British (Hong Kong) Citizen' in return for Lord Geddes withdrawing his amendment. However see next item below.

Possible further action on behalf of Hong Kong

3. I believe that Mr Jones is enquiring of the Legal Advisers whether, if 'British Dependent Territories Citizen' is agreed, the use of 'British (Hong Kong) Citizen' in passports could be authorised administratively.

Possible Chinese objections to 'British Hong Kong Citizen'

4.

Peking Telegram No 606 reiterates Sir P Cradock's objections to the omission of the brackets in this formula. We have discussed with FED who agree that if in the end it is thought necessary to omit the brackets in order to get agreement to such a wording, we could overrule the Ambassador.

Contact with Governor of Hong Kong

(412

5. We have undertaken in FCO Telegram No 792 to keep Sir M MacLehose up-to-date. Whatever line it is agreed to take with the Home Office we should get a telegram off to him by the evening of 16 October.

15 October 1981

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R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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Mr Adams

Mr Howells NTD Mr Jones NTD

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET