TNAG-1382-FCO40-1830-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 103

CONFIDENTIAL

1

Hong Kong

The

Acts

to granting Commonwealth Citizen status to

BN (O)s.

obviously wish to keep the benefits of

of that status however.

Home Office's Legal Advisers have pointed out that SO many

involve Commonwealth Citizenship that it would be extremely

cumbersome to schedule them to the Order. However it would be

possible to include a clause in the Order saying that BN(O) status

would confer the same advantages as Commonwealth Citizenship without making BN (O)s Commonwealth Citizens. The Home Office will argue

that this is

likely to cause as much offence to the Chinese as

making them Commonwealth citizens. They will say that as the

Chinese first proposed that ex-BDTCs should become BOC s (who are Commonwealth Citizens) they should not object to BN(O)s being the

same. Hong Kong and Peking are however firm in opposing this. In

our reply to Hong Kong we should explain the practical significance of Commonwealth Citizenship.

Passports

[References:

Nicholson's letter of 11 January

31)K 1391

L

Hong Kong telno 338

15. Large measure of agreement.

concurrently.

BN (O)

and BDTC passports to run

16. We should seek Home Office

agreement to Hong Kong's proposals

for the set out

out of the application form (para A of TUR).

17. The alternative in para 4 (c) of Nicholson's letter

letter would almost

"ertainly be unacceptable to the Chines.

18. We as sume from the telegram identity cards before 1 July 1987.

to

refer to the identity cards.

confirmation.

that Hong Kong

Kong will issue new This will enable BN (O) passports

We have asked Hong Kong for

19. We should check with the Home Office that

refer to the Secretary of State in passports

it is acceptable to

is sued in Hong Kong

CONFIDENTIAL