TNAG-1087-FCO40-1337-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 51

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YOU ALSO ASKED FOR ASSURANCE THAT THE NATIONAL STATUS OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S

UNDERTAKINGS TOWARDS THEM WOULD CONTINUE WHETHER A PARTICULAR

DEPENDENT TERRITORY REMAINED IN SCHEDULE OF THE BILL OR NOT. I

CANNOT, OF COURSE, MAKE ANY DEFINITE FORECAST ABOUT A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION, PARTICULARLY ONE WHICH, AS YOU YOURSELF POINTED OUT IN THE DEBATE, IS VERY REMOTE. IT IS IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, TO POINT OUT THAT A DEPENDENT TERRITORY MAY ONLY BE REMOVED FROM SCHEDULE BY A

DECISION OF PARLIAMENT.

IF THERE WERE TO BE A CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF A DEPENDENCY, THE QUESTION OF THE NATIONAL STATUS IN OUR LAW OF PEOPLE FROM THAT DEPENDENCY WOULD THEREFORE BE FOR PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE, TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT WOULD, I BELIEVE, BE WRONG TO TRY TO

BE MORE PRECISE ON HOW BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS FROM HONG KONG MIGHT BE AFFECTED, PARTICULARLY, AS NO CLEAR ANALOGY CAN BE DRAWN BETWEEN THAT TERRITORY AND OTHERS WHICH IN THE PAST

HAVE CEASED TO BE DEPENDENCIES. WHAT I BELIEVE MATTERS MOST FROM

HONG KONG'S POINT OF VIEW IS THAT THE STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY

RESTS ON THE TWIN BASES OF OUR EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND OF BRITAIN'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG'S PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT ALTERED BY THE NATIONALITY BILL.

ENDS.

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HK & GD

NTD

S AM D

SED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR HURD

PS/LORD TREFGARNE PS/PUS

MR ADAMS

MR DONALD

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

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