TNAG-2193-FCO40-3130-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 197

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 933

OF 16053OZ MARCH 90

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

204

071230-

MDHIAN 1577

HKD":340/42Y

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY ||

23 MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER

184

196

INDEX

PA

Action. I

YRTELNO 557 AND PEKING TELNO 401: NATION

مو

TYPACKAGE", PQ

1. WE NOTE THAT THE PQ REFERS TO PASSPORTS, AND NOT JUST TO BRITISH CITIZEN PASSPORTS. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING REPLY:

'THE MEMORANDA ATTACHED TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE CURRENTLY BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS (BDTCS) TO BE ABLE TO USE PASSPORTS ISSUED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AFTER 1997. THE PASSPORT CONCERNED IS THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT.

AS THE HON. GENTLEMAN IS AWARE, WE INTEND TO GRANT FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO A NUMBER OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS. WHILST IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR ME TO REVEAL THE DETAILS OF CONFIDENTIAL EXCHANGES, I CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THAT THIS IS A MATTER WHICH FALLS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. IT IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION'

2. YOU WILL NOTE THAT OUR SUGGESTED REPLY INCLUDES PEKING'S POINT ABOUT HAVING MADE CLEAR TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THAT THE GRANTING OF FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IS A MATTER FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT RECALL THIS SPECIFIC POINT BEING MADE FORMALLY TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. IT MAY OF COURSE BE THAT PEKING MADE THIS POINT TO THE MFA LAST DECEMBER WHEN INFORMING THEM OF NATIONALITY PACKAGE.

WILSON

YYYY

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL