TNAG-1385-FCO40-1833-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 50

CONFIDENTIAL

(B) PARAPGRAPH 26 OF THE WHITE PAPER (ARTICLE 6(2) OF THE ORDER IN COUNCIL). THE REFERENCE IN THE WHITE PAPER TO BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP BEING CONFERRED AUTOMATICALLY AT BIRTH ON

CHILDREN BORN ON OR AFTER 1 JULY 1997 ETC'' WILL APPEAR TO THE CHINESE TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR PRINCIPLE IN PARAGRAPH 3 ABOVE. WE TOLD THE CHINESE LAST NOVEMBER THAT THE ACQUISITION OF BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP BY CHILDREN IN THIS CATEGROY WOULD NOT BE AUTOMATIC BECAUSE ONLY THOSE WHO COULD SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCE EVIDENCE THAT THEY WOULD PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN BRITISH NATIONALS AND WOULD OTHERWISE BECOME STATELESS WOULD ACQUIRE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP (SEE PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR TEL NO 2357 TO HONG KONG

OF 27 NOVEMBER 1984). THE CHINESE MAY THEREFORE BE SURPRISED BY THE TERMS OF PARAGRAPH 26 OF THE WHITE PAPER

5. IF YOU AGREE THAT THE CHINESE MAY PICK UP THESE TWO POINTS YOU MAY WISH TO PUT IN HAND A DEFENSIVE BRIEF FOR USE HERE OF IN HONG KONG. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT OF ANY SUCH BRIEF.

EVANS

LIMITED

HKD

FED

UND

PS

PLANNING STAFF

PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS.

MR DEREK THOMAS

SIR W HARDING

DR WILSON.

CONFIDENTIAL