TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 45

NATIONALITY

ESSENTIAL FACTS

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concerns.

1. British Nationality Act 1981 (BNA) provides for separate British Dependent Territories' Citizenship. Hong Kong would have preferred title which emphasised more strongly Territory's links

with UK. Amendments were introduced to allay some of Hong Kong's

Nevertheless, BNA has had lasting effect on HMG's relations with Hong Kong. Widely considered to demonstrate HMG's lack of commitment to Hong Kong in comparison to Gibraltar and Falkland Islands, whose inhabitants have been given access to

British citizenship.

Wording in Passports

2. During her visit to Hong Kong in September 1982, Prime Minister noted the strength of feeling about BNA and in particular EXCO's request that BDTCS should be permitted to describe themselves as 'British' in their passports. After discussions within Whitehall she agreed in November 1982 that word 'British' would be inserted against printed words 'National Status on passports of all British Dependent Territories citizens, followed by words 'British Dependent Territories citizen' and name of Dependent Territory. Consequential

amendments would be made at bottom of page 1 of passports where note

would now read 'Attention is drawn to the notes at the back of this passport and to any observation relating to control under the Immigration Act, 1971 on page 5'. (Stamp on page 5 read 'holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act, 1971').

On back page, previous note 2 would be replaced by following: 'Citizenship and National Status British citizens have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. No right of abode in the United Kingdom derives from the status as British nationals of British Dependent Territory citizens, British overseas citizens, British Protected persons and

British subjects'.

3.

Purpose of these additional amendments was to allay Home Office fear that use of description 'British' would imply that BDTCs had right of abode in UK. In informing Hong Kong of Prime Minister's

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