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4.
IT WOULD
WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR INFORMING EXCO IN STRICT CONFIDENCE OF THE GENERAL ATTITUDE OUTLINED ABOVE WHICH MINISTERS INTEND TO TAKE DURING THE DEBATE, THOUGH THIS SHOULD BE ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY KEEP THIS TO THEMSELVES. NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR MINISTERS TO REVEAL IN ADVANCE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO SAY IF THIS WAS TO BECOME PUBLIC. IF YOU DO SPEAK TO EXCO, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT MINISTERS HAVE FULLY TAKEN ON BOARD THE STRENGTH OF FEELING ON THESE ISSUES IN HONG KONG BUT ARE CONCERNED NOT TO UNDERMINE THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF NATIONALITY AND IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE UK, WHICH WOULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS EXTENDING FAR BEYOND HONG KONG. IT SHOULD NOT BE DISGUISED THAT THE PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD IN MISS
DUNN'S LETTER DO RAISE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES.
5.
IN OUTLINE THESE DIFFICULTIES ARE:
(A) PASSPORT ENDORSEMENT. THERE IS NO INTENTION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE AN ENTRY CERTIFICATE OR VISA REQUIREMENT ON BN(0)S COMING HERE AS BONA FIDE VISITORS. BUT TO PUT AN ENDORSEMENT IN PASSPORTS TO THIS
EFFECT WOULD MEAN THAT THE ENDORSEMENT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY,BE VALID FOR THE LIFE OF THE PASSPORT, AND, SINCE REPLACEMENTS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ISSUED, IN EFFECT VALID INDEFINITELY. THERE ARE VERY SERIOUS DOUBTS AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF ANY GOVERNMENT SEEKING TO COMMIT ITS
SUCCESSORS IN THIS WAY.
(B) MINORITY COMMUNITIES. THE EXTENSION OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES WOULD NOT EITHER SECURE THEIR RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG OR PREVENT
STATELESSNESS OCCURRING AFTER THE SECOND GENERATION BORN
IN HONG KONG. THE COMMUNITIES CONCERNED HAVE IN GENERAL EXPRESSED THE WISH TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG, AND RIGHT OF ABODE THERE FOR THEM IS SECURED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.
TO GIVE THEM BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WOULD NOT ONLY NOT ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTS, BUT WOULD ALSO BE CONTRARY TO THE MAIN PRINCIPLE OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE A DISTINCT FORM OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR THOSE BRITISH NATIONALS WHO HAVE A
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