TNAG-1154-FCO40-1434-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-(MPs)-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 236

IN CONFIDENCE

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NATIONALITY ACT

5.5

The British Nationality Act provides for a separate category of

'British Dependent Territories' Citizenship' (BDTC). Hong Kong,

which is in any case unhappy about the abandonment of a unitary system

of citizenship, would have preferred a title which emphasised more

strongly the territory's links with the UK. Amendments were, however,

introduced in order to allay some of Hong Kong's fears over the Act,

by registration for BDTCs after five years' residence in the UK and

discretionary registration of Dependent Territories' Crown Servants as

British Citizens.

OVERSEAS STUDENTS' FEES AT UK INSTITUTIONS

5.6 HMG's decision to raise the recommended level of tuition fees

for overseas students has aroused considerable feeling in Hong Kong,

in view of the territory's special relationship with the UK. This is

aggravated by the fact that by a technicality students from the French

overseas territories and from Gibraltar are classified as home students.

The Hong Kong Government has introduced a scheme by which means-tested

loans are available for Hong Kong students on first degree or equivalent

courses in Britain.

ANGLO/CHINESE RELATIONS OVER HONG KONG

5.7 The Chinese consider the Treaties relating to the cession of Reng

Kong and the lease of the New Territories (paragraph 1.1 above) as

'unequal treaties' forced on China during a period of internal weakness

and they do not, therefore, recognise them. They regard Hong Kong as

a problem left over from history, to be settled when the time is right.

In the meantime, they are content to leave things as they are, parti-

cularly in view of the practical value of Hong Kong to them. Hong

Kong is a valuable direct source of convertible currency (estimated at

between 30% and 40% of the total Chinese earnings of foreign exchange)

mostly earned from foodstuffs, invisibles and remittances to relations

in China. It is also, as China's only deep water port, an important

entrepôt.

IN CONFIDENCE

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