TNAG-1105-FCO40-1355-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-British-passport-holders-in-China-1981 — Page 17

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

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Reference

2

Mr Morrice, HK&GD

HICKC 384/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

O APR 1931

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PROTECTION OF CUKCS FROM HONG KONG IN CHINA (U

PA

Jau

REGISTRY Action Taken

Awalu

Minute of 16 March from Mr Paul, FED. Mr Glover, NTD will be commenting separately on the question of a Consular Agreement with China.

1.

See 3

2. Regarding paragraph 5 of Mr Paul's minute of the status of a Hong Kong passport itis unfortunate that Mr Atkinson has used throughout his letter the expression 'Hong Kong British passport holders' when he really means CUKCS of Hong Kong origin. It seems from para 3 of his letter that he considers that they are entitled to consular protection by virtue of their citizenship and not by virtue of the travel document on which they entered China. I cannot believe that he is seeking to distinguish between a CUKC from Hong Kong to whom a British passport has been issued and one who has never held a British passport. So I do not think that in paragraph 4 of Mr Atkinson's letter he is really referring to the status of a Hong Kong passport: he is referring to the obligation to protect CUKCs from Hong Kong tout court.

17 March 1981

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тоже

W Jones

Nationality and Treaty Department