TNAG-1157-FCO40-1437-Visits-by-FCO-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 69

CONFIDENTIAL

NATIONALITY ESSENTIAL FACTS

NOMENCLATURE IN PASSPORTS

1.

During her visit to Hong Kong the Prime Minister noted the strength of feeling about nomenclature in passports,

and said that she hoped for "some encouraging news" about this.

She asked the Foreign and Home Secretaries for advice about the

issue on 21 October.

As

2.

This was presented by the Secretary of State for Foreign

and Commonwealth Affairs in his submission of 16 November. The

Prime Minister approved his recommendation on 18 November.

a result, the word "British" will be inserted against the

printed words "National Status" on the passports of British

Dependent Territories Citizens, followed by the words "British

Dependent Territories Citizen" and the name of the Dependent

Territory.

3.

Consequential amendments will be made at the bottom of page 1, where the note will now read "Attention is drawn to the

notes at the back of this passport and to any observation

relating to control under the Immigration Act, 1971 on page 5." Page 5 will be stamped "holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act, 1971", as is currently done in most Dependent Territories. On the back page, the existing note 2 will be replaced by the following: "Citizenship and National Status British citizens have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

No right of abode in the United Kingdom derives from the status

as British nationals of British Dependent Territories citizens,

British overseas citizens, British Protected persons and British

subjects.

"

CONFIDENTIAL

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