TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 102

Brish Citizens by virtue of the colony's association with

the European Community, the principle was preserved that all

dependencies should be treated uniformly.

of

This was

achieved in the face to vigorous and persistent lobbying from

the colonies. Hong Kong in particular won a number of

concessions, but none which the legislation did not apply

equally to all colonies. These concessions stopped short

of granting BC status to belongers of dependent territories

or allowing them to use the description 'British National' in

their passports.

Annexes A, B & C to GNN 340/1(13)

(1981)

Annex B GNN 340/

1(13) 1981

Folio 72 on Part

C of Annex B

GNN 340/1(13)

(1981)

5 With its two and a half million CUKCS and its uncertain

future, Hong Kong had always to be carefully considered

during the passage of the Bill. As was pointed out to

the Governor, nothing in the Bill affected the position of

Hong Kong belongers as far as their right of entry to, or

abode in, the UK was concerned. The Government was anxious

to preserve this situation. In the context of Hong Kong's

request for BC status for its belongers, the Home Secretary

referred in a letter to Lord Carrington to 'extremely

awkward questions of the duties which we felt we owed to our

CONFIDENTIAL

/nationals

Folio 21 IBID

Folio 117 IBID