TNAG-1188-FCO40-1490-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 103

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FM FCO 041717Z MAY 82

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 313 OF 4 MAY

FOR DEPUTY GOVERNOR FROM LORD BELSTEAD

BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT

1. I AM REPLYING TO THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER OF 16 MARCH TO

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL.

HKK 340/1

2. WE HAVE LOOKED AGAIN VERY CAREFULLY AT THE DESCRIPTION TO BE USED IN BDTC PASSPORTS. WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO ACCOMMODATE

HONG KONG'S WISHES BUT I REGRET TO HAVE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE

LEGAL ADVICE REMAINS FIRMLY THAT THE DESIGNATION IN THE BRITISH

NATIONALITY ACT MUST BE ADHERED TO. I SHOULD THEREFORE BE

GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD EXPLAIN TO UMELCO THAT THIS IS A LEGAL

PROBLEM AND THAT IT CANNOT BE GOT ROUND.

G

112915

See 35

36

(89

See MKK 345/1 1983

3. WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED THE QUESTION OF HOW BDTCS SHOULD DESCRIBE THEIR NATIONALITY ON IMMIGRATION FORMS. FORMALLY, WE HAVE TO ADVISE THE USE OF BDTC, BUT THIS IS A MATTER BETWEEN THE

INDIVIDUAL AND THE COUNTRY BEING VISITED. IF OFFICIALS OF THE

LATTER WERE READY TO ACCEPT SAY ' BRITISH: HONG KONG' THEN WE WOULD NOT OBJECT. HOWEVER, WE COULD NOT ADVISE ITS USE.

PYM

4

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

LIMITED

HKGD

NTD

PS

PS/LORD BELSTEAD

PS/PUS

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

1

CONFIDENTIAL