TNAG-1191-FCO40-1493-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

-3-

DSR 11C

Legal Advisers and also by the Attorney-General of Hong Kong,

If and and the Hong Kong authorities are fully aware of it. to the extent that an argument could be advanced that, aside from specific treaty commitments, a State must in. the last resort permit entry of its 'nationals' into its territory, that argument would not, in the view of my Fco

Legal Advisers, be strengthened by the inclusion in Hong Kong

passports of the additional description 'British national',

the more particularly as it is intended that those Hong Kong

passport-holders who do not have the right of abode in the UK

would still have their passports endorsed on page 5:

not to extend

INSERT

'The holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act

1971'.

5.

In all the circumstances, the Foreign and Commonwealth

might Secretary considers that the right course would be to accede

the Hong Kong request. The gesture would be seen as a natura

It would be very difficult He realises that consequence of the Prime Minister's visit.

this change would have to be extended to British Dependent

Territories Citizens in other Dependencies and recognises

be

there

also

that it might in turn lead to demands for 'British national'

to be similarly included in the passports of British

Overseas Citizens,, British Protected Persons and other

residuals.

However, there is no current pressure for this

and he would propose that it be resisted if it came.

CONFIDENTIAL