TNAG-1191-FCO40-1493-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 12

[SUBMISSION OF

A SEPTEMBER

CONFIDENTIAL covering Secret

(A)

HAVA 390/1

.

Lord Gordon Lennox

Mr Rifkind

PS

cc to:-

PS/Lord Belstead

Mr Donald

PA

Al

- HKGD

Me

My Hoare

Moare M

1

сабари

MVD

WED

Sir Ian Sinclair

Mr Rushford

(112)

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

23

PROBLEM

F1R1345/4

FIRA

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

RECOM

RECOMMENDATION

•2.

I recommend

a.

b.

c.

BACKGROUND

3.

in view of the overriding political consideration (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 if possible in time for the PM's visit to Hong Kong.

the Secretary of State should write to the Home. Secretary on the lines of the attached draft,

HKGD, MVD, WED and Legal Advisers concur.

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.

They

During the passage of the Bill in Parliament Hong Kong sought a number of concessions. Some of these were agreed or alternatively changes were made which partly met Hong Kong's requests. were subsequently applied to all dependent territories. significant of these were that:

The most

}

/a.

CONFIDENTIAL covering Secret