TNAG-1125-FCO40-1400-British-Nationality-Act-1981-and-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 101

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING S E CRET

ince the inception of the new policy on citizenship, leading to the passing of British Nationality Act 1981, Hong Kong have been concerned at the removal of CUKC status from residents of dependent territories.

They

have seen the changes as representing a weakening of the links between the UK and Hong Kong, at a time of increasing uncertainty about the Territory's future.

4.

During the passage of the Bill in Parliament Hong

Kong sought a number of concessions.

Some of these were

agree or alternative changes were made which partly met

Hong Kong's requests.

They were subsequently applied to

1

f

The most significant of these

all dependent territories.

were that:

4-

a. A third category of citizenship, British Dependent Territories citizenship (BDTC) was included in the White Paper and the Bill.

It had been the Government's original

intention to confer British Overseas citizen-

ship on those present citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who will not acquire

British citizenship (BC) on 1 January 1983.

b.

BDTCS became eligible for registration as

British citizens, a symbolic improvement

over the position of aliens who will need

to apply for naturalisation.

/5.

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET