TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 22

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING S ECRET

3. Since the inception of the new policy on citizenship,

leading to the passing of British Nationality Act 1981,

Hong Kong have been concerned, at the removal of CUKC

status from residents of dependent territories. They

have seen the changes as representing a weakening of the

links between the UK and Hong Kong, at a time of increasing

uncertainty about the Territory's future.

4.

During the passage of the Bill in Parliament Hong

Kong sought a number of concessions.

}

Some of these were

agreed or alternative changes were made which partly met

Hong Kong's requests.

They were subsequently applied to

all dependent territories.

were that:

The most significant of these

a. A third category of citizenship, British

!

Dependent Territories citizenship (BDTC)

was included in the White Paper and the Bill.

It had been the Government's original

intention to confer British Overseas citizen-

ship on those present citizens of the United

Kingdom and Colonies who will not acquire

British citizenship (BC) on 1 January 1983.

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b. BDTCS became eligible for registration as

British citizens, a symbolic improvement

over the position of aliens who will need

to apply for naturalisation.

/5.

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING S E CRET

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