TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 118

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1(13). Annex B

Nationality Bill:

Hong Kong

1.

tomorrow.

I know that you are seeing the Governor of Hong Kong

I have just had a long and detailed discussion with him myself. I think it important that I let you have my views on his problem over the Nationality Bill issue.

2.

As you know, Hong Kong's concerns go back to the 1962 Immigration Act when, with some justification, they believed that without consultation, they had been deprived of the right of automatic entry to the UK. When the framework of the new nationality legislation was put forward, first in the Labour administration's Green Paper and subsequently in our own White Paper, Hong Kong were told that the changes would be in name only and that their practical position as regards entry and long term residence in the UK would not be affected.

As you know, they were still worried over the psychological effect of the change of citizenship title but, with the introduction of the third category of citizenship for dependent territories they were, with reluctance, prepared to live with the situation.

3.

However, when the Bill was published at the beginning of this year, it was realised in Hong Kong that there were a number of significant areas in which their practical situation had deteriorated. One of these is the proposal that the automatic right of registration as a British citizen with right of abode after five years residence should be ended; and that citizens of the dependent territories would have to take their

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