TNAG-1173-FCO40-1465-Future-of-Hong-Kong-special-study-by-FCO-for-the-Prime-Minis-1982 — Page 115

SECRET

form of British nationality or citizenship

by its inhabitants. However this would

arouse fundamental opposition from people

in Hong Kong who would not trust an arrangement

which involved the removal of British protection.

Moreover from the British point of view it

would be unworkable if the UK were responsible

for Hong Kong's external relations but China

protected its people abroad. The removal of

British Dependent Territories' Citizenship

from the people of Hong Kong would paradoxically

have serious immigration implications for the

UK in that it would damage confidence so seriously

that an exodus from the territory would be

likely, probably before any agreement had taken

effect. Even though BDTC status of itself

confers no right of abode in the UK, this would

mean that a large number of people, still

retaining British passports, would demand entry

to the UK and would expect special treatment on

the analogy of that accorded to the Falkland

Islanders. On the other hand if an arrangement

for continuing British administration were

reached with China, and British Dependent

Territories' Citizenship was retained for those

born or naturalised in Hong Kong, people would

be encouraged to stay.

- 20

SECRET

/L