60.
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On the other hand it is questionable whether it would be apt to have an appeal system if good character, assessed in each case by analysing all the factors involved, were to remain the criterion for citizenship. The diversity of circumstances encountered in applications is very wide. The judgements which have to be made in this area are essentially subjective, and matters of this kind are not easily justiciable. It is for consideration how far it would be an improvement to substitute the views of adjudicators for those of the Home Secretary and his advisers. Under the present system the standards applied in the generality of cases can be, and are, modified, and exceptions made to them, where this seems justified. But if good character was replaced by objective tests the scope of a right of appeal would be small. The only issues that would then come to an appeal would be the length of an applicant's residence in this country or his future intentions. Applicants who were refused on security and similar grounds could not in any case be given a right of appeal, because of the difficulty of disclosing in public the information that had led to the refusal.
Dual Nationality
(e)
61.
United Kingdom law contains no bar on the holding of dual nationality. Of the citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who have other citizenships, some have obtained them by naturalisation in other countries, but the majority have them by reason of their descent. In particular, the close links between families in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic have led to much dual citizenship. Most other countries place restrictions on the holding of other citizenships in addition to their own. Nearly all Commonwealth countries, for instance, withdraw citizenship from those who voluntarily acquire the citizenship of another country, taking the view that those who of their own free will acquire the citizenship of another country should lose their original citizenship since they have sought and obtained the protection of another State. Some of these countries made provision to this effect on first attaining independence, while others which formerly allowed their citizens to hold another nationality have changed their law. Equally many countries require applicants for naturalisation to renounce their former nationality as evidence of their commitment to their new country. Others extend the ban on dual nationality further, to those who have acquired it involuntarily say through parents of different nationalities who are both able to transmit their citizenship. Usually such States allow the child to remain a dual national until he is of age, and then he has to decide within a specified time which citizenship he intends to hold, and renounce the other; if he fails to make a choice either way he automatically forfeits the citizenship of the country concerned.
62.
If the United Kingdom decided to tighten its law on dual nationality, there are thus various options:-
(i)
a complete ban on dual nationality where it arises either voluntarily (by naturalisation etc.) or in- voluntarily (by descent for instance), with some arrangements for children who are dual nationals to make a choice when they come of age;
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