TNAG-2360-FCO40-3431-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 24

CONFIDENTIAL

The Prime Minister may be questioned abut an alleged anomaly in our nationality legislation, which means that children born to some Hong Kong-based British citizens

after 1983 are British citizens while children born

before 1983 are only BDTCS: this could encourage the

parents of older children to move back to the UK in order

to achieve British citizen status, ie it encourages the

brain-drain which we want to halt. He might say:

OMELCO members raised this in July with

Lord Caithness. The Foreign Office and Home Office are

considering the issue.

If asked about British citizenship for wives and

widows of World War II servicemen, the Prime Minister

could repeat the Home Secretary's assurance in Parliament

(19 April 1990) that if they have not remarried and are

still resident in Hong Kong they can come to the UK for

settlement before or after 1997.

If asked about the phasing out (1991-94) of the

Dependent Territories Work Permit Quota, the Prime

Minister could say that it is unconnected with the

nationality legislation and did not cater for skilled

workers; the phase-out applies to all Dependent

Territories; the scheme was anomalous.

Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS)

Many Administrative Officers (who run the Hong Kong

Government) and senior Police Officers are members of

HMOCS. Previously, in colonies proceeding to

independence, HMOCS officers have always been paid

CONFIDENTIAL