CONFIDENTIAL
ANNEX A
DSR 11C
RESPONSES FROM OVERSEAS TO THE PROPOSAL THAT TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST GENERATION
1. The majority of representations on this subject received
́by the Home Office and Posts overseas have been about the
G
บ
children of UK expatriate businessmen. The need to find a way
to provide for them is generally acceptable within the FCO.
2.
The representations on this subject on behalf of other
British citizens resident overseas has been small.
There has
been a reasonable response from British residents' associations
in France and Switzerland. These not surprisingly wish to see
British citizenship transmissible beyond the first generation
though none argue that those concerned would suffer practical
difficulties if this were not done. Most simply consider it
"unfair" that those who wish to should not be able to transmit
citizenship to their children born overseas as of right; they
ignore the fact that this has not beer possible beyond the
first generation in Commonwealth countries for the last 30
years and that even in foreign countries it has been necessary
to deny the right of abode to those citizens of the third and
subsequent generation born overseas. The most concise and
thoughtful contribution on this subject came from the British
Residents Association of Switzerland in the form of the
following extract:
"On the question of how many generations born abroad, the BRA emphatically endorses the statement that circumstances would justify passing this at least to a second generation. These cases may not be as exceptional as might appear. Who is to pass judgment on these cases?. However skilfully drafted, can all the cases be covered
with clarity, while preserving equity, or vice versa? The BRA recommends without hesitation that a third generation
be permitted, to cover the many problems which would arise
if the horizon were to be too limited."
13.
CONFIDENCIAL
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