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INFO DESKBY 29010OZ PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG
PEKING TELNOS 1091 AND 1092 AND HONG KONG TELNO 2375: BRITISH
NATIONALITY ACT: CHINESE PRESS RELEASE
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1.
MINISTERS HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT OUR RESPONSE TO THE CHINESE PRESS RELEASE. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS TO PLAY THIS DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND NOT TO PROVOKE ANY FURTHER CHINESE STATEMENTS.
2. WE THINK THAT OUR ON THE RECORD RESPONSE SHOULD THEREFORE BE BRIEF AND LOW KEY. WE WOULD PREFER TO AVOID DESCRIBING CHINESE STATEMENTS AS 'DISAPPOINTING' OR 'ODD'.
3.
NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING LINE IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS:
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THE CHINESE POSITION ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME IS ALREADY WELL KNOWN.
AS MR MAUDE EXPLAINED DURING HIS VISIT, THE ONLY AIM OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY CHONG KONG) ACT 1990 IS TO PROVIDE ASSURANCES TO KEEP PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO ARE OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE TO MAINTAINING ITS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE LONG RUN.
AS WE HAVE MADE CLEAR MANY TIMES, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE ACT WHICH CONTRAVENES THE JOINT DECLARATION OR THE ASSOCIATED EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA.
THE KEY POINT IS THAT RECIPIENTS OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE ACT WILL HAVE THE ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE OF RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK.
4. NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS AS NECESSARY:
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5.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND FREEDOM OF TRAVEL IS GUARANTEED UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION.
THE JOINT DECLARATION MAKES CLEAR THAT RESIDENTS OF THE
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SAR MAY USE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY OTHER STATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE SAR.
THE BRITISH MEMORANDUM REFERS TO THOSE WHO ARE BDTCS ON 30 JUNE 1997. IT IS A MATTER FOR THE UK WHETHER TO GRANT BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO SOME BDTCS BEFOREHAND.
IN BACKGROUND BRIEFING, NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO POINT OUT
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