TNAG-1383-FCO40-1831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 162

CODE 18-77

AWO Ltd. 7/84

Mrs Priest, HKD

Reference...

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 0+0/4

RECER

VECINTAY

1 1 JUL 1985

(251

HONG KONG AGREEMENT:

DRAFT ORDER

Please refer to your minute of 20 June enclosing Mr Emery's letter of 17 June

1.

2.

223

I attach a copy of a minute by Mr Kaye of this department to which I have little to add. I think the point made at the end of his paragraph 2 is very valid. The Home Office are concerned that allowing ethnic Chinese who are 'mixed' BDTCs to be excepted from loss will be unacceptable to the Chinese. This is something on which HKD will be better able to pronounce, but it does seem that many anomolies and inconsistencies will result if the exceptions from loss are made too narrow. The number of 'mixed' BDTCs who may later be affected under independence arrangements of another dependent territory (Mr Kaye's para 4) is an unknown quantity. There may be none at all, but it is an aspect which should nevertheless be considered when the categories excepted from loss of BDTC status are decided.

3. I am inclined to agree with Mr Kaye's view that anyone defined as having a connection with Hong Kong should be eligible to register as a BN(O) even if they will be excepted from loss of BDTC status, but I have no strong views on this. As already agreed, no-one would be permitted to hold two passports concurrently with a different status shown on each.

Heal

Y JE Veale (Miss)

Nationality and Treaty Dept

24 June 1985

cc: Mr Fifoot, Legal Advisers

Mr Grainger, Legal Advisers

CONFIDENTIAL