TNAG-1190-FCO40-1492-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 121

Lord Gordon Lennox

Mr Rifkind

PS

cc to:

PS/Lord Belstead

Mr Donald

HKGD

MVD

Mr Rushford

Mr Freeland

WED

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET

PROPOSAL BY HONG KONG TO DESCRIBE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS AS 'BRITISH NATIONALS' IN PASSPORTS

PROBLEM

1. To react to the Home Office's reply to our proposal that BDTCs should be described as 'British nationals' in their passports.

RECOMMENDATION

2.

I recommend:

a.

b.

a meeting should be arranged between the Secretary of State and the Home Secretary;

in view of the overriding political considerations (paragraphs 13 and 14) and in spite of the difficulties involved from the nationality, immigration and passport practice aspects, the Secretary of State should press the Hong Kong case and seek a favourable decision in time for the PM's visit to Hong Kong.

Lord Belstead should inform the HK Unofficial Councillors on 7 September that the matter is still under consideration.

HKGD, MVD, WED and Legal Advisers concur,

c.

>

BACKGROUND

3. Since the inception of the new policy on citizenship, leading to the passing of the 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

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET

/applied