TNAG-1190-FCO40-1492-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 52

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SUBJECT: PROPOSAL BY HONG KONG TO DESCRIBE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS AS 'BRITISH NATIONALS'

IN PASSPORTS

As you know, there has been an exchange of

correspondence between our two Departments about the

proposal by officials of the Hong Kong Executive and

Legislative Councils that the term 'British National'

should be entered in British passports issued by the

Governor of Hong Kong. You have recorded your strong

opposition to the Hong Kong proposal, while we continue to

see very strong foreign policy reasons, connected with the

broader issue of the future of Hong Kong, for agreeing

to it.

Enclosures--flag(s)........

I recognise that this proposal raises very difficult

issues for you as well as for us. It needs careful

consideration and I do not think we should attempt to

reach a decision before the Prime Minister's visit to

Hong Kong. The Prime Minister will nevertheless need

to be carefully briefed on this issue since it is bound

to be raised with her while she is in Hong Kong. It seems