TNAG-1188-FCO40-1490-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 83

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HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE : RELATIONS WITH CHINA

19 MAY 1982

HKK 340/1

TO

RECEIVED BY NO. 51

2. MAY?

ESSENTIAL FACTS

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

PNGISTRY

Action Taken

Nationality

1.

Arz/5

Under the Nationality Act, Citizens of the United

Kingdom and Colonies through their connection with Hong Kong

will become British Dependent Territories' Citizens (BDTCs).

This wording (it was until the later stages of the Bill to

have been Citizens of the British Dependent Territories)

was accepted to meet concern in Dependent Territories,

particularly Hong Kong, that the new law would not sufficiently

express their 'Britishness'. The House of Lords amendment

HMG's decision, for

in July 1981 which gave Gibraltarians, on account of their

EC connection the right to acquire British Citizenship,

increased this concern and revived interest in securing

further concessions for Hong Kong.

Parliamentary reasons, not to try to oppose the Gibraltar

amendment caused disquiet in Hong Kong and there is still

resentment that more was not done for them. There is

however no attempt in Hong Kong to argue that they should

have the right of entry to the UK.

Overseas Students' Fees

2.

From the 1980-1981 year, overseas students, except those from the EC (including Gibraltar), have had to pay full

RESTRICTED

/fees