TNAG-1155-FCO40-1435-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-(MPs)-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 177

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IN CONFIDENCE

1982.

Discussions were broken off in September without

agreement on the major issues but may be resumed.

b) Defence

1981.

5.3 The garrison in Hong Kong consists of five infantry battalions (four Gurkha and one British), a Gurkha engineering squadron, five naval patrol craft and two squadrons of helicopters. There is provision for ad hoc short term reinforcement. A new Defence Costs Agreement was signed in October 1980 and came into effect in April

It will run for seven years initially, and will be renewable for further periods of five years on the same terms unless varied.

Hong Kong's contribution to costs under the Agreement remain at 75%,

but a new, comprehensive system of accounting costs had been introduced which, in effect, has increased Hong Kong's share by more than 50%. Part of this reflects the enlargement of the British garrison in Hong Kong by one infantry battalion.

c) Nationality Act

5.4 The British Nationality Act provides for a separate category of "British Dependent Territories' Citizenship" (BDTC). Hong Kong, which is 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 permitting registration for BDTCs after five years' residence in the UK, and allowing discretionary registration of Dependent Territories' Crown Servants as British Citizens.

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