TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 11

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so Hong Kong residents who are not of Chinese race and who have solely British nationality.

4. In recent weeks the agenda has expanded to take in LegCo anxiety about the proposed phased registration programme of British Dependent Territory Citizens as British Nationals

(Overseas).

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We have been pressing the Home Office hard to take into account the strong resistance in Hong Kong to having to give up BDTC passports (when they receive BN (0) passports) before 30 June 1997. The Home Office seem prepared to concede

officials are briefing Home Office Ministers to tell the delegation that they have agreed to look at allowing Hong Kong residents to hold the two passports simultaneously. (This will mean holding up the tabling of the Order in Council for a few weeks).

5. The delegation may raise other nationality matters (a) British citizenship for the wives and widows of ex-servicemen and (b) progress on registration of ́"split families". Briefing covers these issues.

6. We expect the visit to generate considerable press interest in Hong Kong and (possibly) here. Mr Goodlad has written to parliamentary colleagues on whom the delegation plan to call enclosing briefing giving our point of view. We have further refined this briefing for News Department to draw on in briefing interested journalists.

Johan

J C Morris

gdlad.legcoNATdbj

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