16. The Home Office view was that since it would have to be fully explained
to Parliament in any case, it would be better to be open now, rather than to seek
some oblique form of wording which might not in any case achieve quite the
desired object. The FCO said that both they and Peking were of the view that the
Chinese were in fact unlikely to make a fuss about this, and they agreed that it
would be better to make the point openly. Whatever the Chinese might say publicly,
BN(0) was to be a form of British nationality, and all British nationals were
Commonwealth citizens. Hong Kong agreed that there was considerable advantage in
being open about this in the Order, provided the Chinese were happy.
Agreed to leave article 7(3) as drafted.
List of persons affected
17. The list would need to be revised to take account of agreed amendments to
the generalised formula defining connections with Hong Kong. The Home Office
undertook to do this.
Conclusion
18.
The Order was redrafted to take account of the amendments agreed. An agreed
version
by EXCO.
dated 31 July 1985
was sent forward to Hong Kong for consideration
J P EMERY
NTY/85 1/387/3
12 August 1985
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