TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 35

DSR 11C

7.

It is particularly important that the Government should

maintain uniform citizenship (BDTC) for all the dependencies

without exception, distinctive from British citizenship (BC)

as enshrined in the Act. Any variation from this would lead

to the position that the Government had tacitly abandoned

the concept of BDTC and make us vulnerable to pressure for

similar treatment from other dependent territories, who

would be confirmed in their - unfounded - suspicion that

BDTC was a 'second class' citizenship. St Helena would press

its case for integration with the UK or for unrestricted

entry, and relations with Caribbean dependencies and Bermuda

would be aggravated.

In particular any variation could well prejudice

relations with Hong Kong. Hong Kong have campaigned

8.

vigorously for their two and a half million Citizens of the

UK and Colonies to retain their present status. They would

undoubtedly regard the grant of preferential treatment to the

Falkland Islanders as destroying the basis on which the BDTC

status had been established, and reopening the debate on

their own position. They would not necessarily demand the

right of entry to the UK. Nevertheless if any consequential

concession were made to Hong Kong it could be seen in Parlia-

ment and elsewhere as having serious potential immigration

consequences here. This needs to be seen in the context of

current concern in Hong Kong about their future and about

relations with China; the Prime Minister is to visit Peking

and Hong Kong in September. Against this background it is

vital to view the Falkland's situation in its proper

perspective.

19.