TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 207

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CONFIDENTIAL

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5.

110.

CONNECTION BY ANCESTRY OR RESIDENCE WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM ITSELF. IT WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO DEMANDS FOR SIMILAR TREATEMENT FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES ELSEWHERE. (C) EX-SERVICEMEN. SINCE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE CONCERNED IS UNLIKELY TO FALL UNDER SECTION 4(5) OF THE BNA THERE IS NO ROUTE AVAILABLE UNDER THE ACT TO GRANT

NOR IS BRITISH CITIZENSHIP SPECIFICALLY TO THIS GROUP. THERE ANY POWER UNDER THE HONG KONG ACT TO AMEND THE BNA SO AS TO PERMIT IT. THIS IS QUITE APART FROM THE QUESTION WHETHER THIS GROUP HAS A STRONGER CASE THAN

IT WOULD OTHER GROUPS FOR THIS KIND OF TREATMENT. INCIDENTALLY BE VERY HELPFUL TO RECEIVE FULLER DETAILS OF THE NUMBERS OF PERSONS CONCERNED, THE NATURE OF THEIR SERVICE, AND THEIR PRESENT NATIONALITY STATUS: THIS COULD BE AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE.

WE SHALL BE SENDING A SEPARATE RESPONSE TO YOUR TELNO

HOWE

1

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/NTD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

DEP HD/PUSD

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING MR WILSON

COPIES TO:

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD

MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE

MR EMERY, B4 DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON

MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFIC:

ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.

MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

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Confidential