TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 86

PS/Mr Onslow

97

HKK 340||

CONFIDENTIAL

No

CGE AF20/8.

29/8

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

1.

Your minute of 18 August to Mr Howells. From the Hong Kong point of view there would be serious objections to any announcement that Falkland Islands citizens would be granted British Citizenship on application. A proviso that this was being done without prejudice to the status of any other dependent territory's citizens could be taken in Hong Kong either as a signal that they were being placed in an inferior category or alternatively as half a promise that they might receive similar treatment in special circumstances. In either event the move would be regarded as removing the logical basis for British Dependent Territories' Citizenship and would open the door to demands for concessions to Hong Kong. In the present state of uncertainty about Hong Kong's future and concern about HMG's commitment to the Territory, this would seriously exacerbate our relations with Hong Kong.

19 August 1982

Бир

R D Clift

See (106

Hong Kong and General Department

сс

PS/Lord Belstead

PS/Mr Rifkind

Mr Ure

Mr Donald

Mr Fearn, SAmD

./

Mr Edwards, WIAD

Mr Jackson, Falklands Unit

SED

SPD

MVD

Parliamentary Unit

Lord N Gordon Lennox

CONFIDENTIAL

i