CONFIDENTIAL

in a passport as, for example, Citizen of the British

Dependent Territories (Gibraltar). This, too, we think would be popular.

4. The wording of the last part of paragraph 15 indicates

that the Government are not committed to this title;

dependencies may, if they wish, suggest alternatives.

4A. The White Paper says (WP 16) that the establishment of

a separate citizenship for the British Dependent Territo-

ries would in no way alter the relationship between those

territories and the UK, nor the Government's obligations

and commitments to the dependencies and to their citizens.

5. Everyone who is a CUKC immediately before the new Act

world comes into force will acquire one of the three citizenships. Nobody will be excluded. Those who have certain connec-

tions with the UK (EL 3) will become British Citizens.

Those who have similar connections with the Dependent

Territories (EL 4) will become Citizens of the British

Dependent Territories. Those CUKCs who do not fall into

one of these two categories will become British Overseas

Citizens (EL 5); they will in the main be CUKCs who acqui-

red that status by a connection with a former dependency or from a distant ancestor (not closer than a great grand- father) born in the UK or a dependent territory. 5A. A person with the necessary qualifying connections

could be both a British citizen and a citizen of the

British Dependent Territories. For example, a person born

in the UK of a father born in Gibraltar would have both

citizenships; and a CUKC born in Gibraltar who had been

ordinarily resident in the UK for a continuous period of

5 years would acquire both citizenships (EL ).

6.

UK.

British Citizens would have the right of abode in the

The Government believe that it should be possible for

citizens of the British Dependent Territories to have the

right of abode in the dependency with which they are

connected (but not in any other dependency). The Govern-

ment believe that the Immigration Ordinances of most

dependencies already provide that at least for the vast

majority of the people concerned.

7. British Overseas Citizenship would be a transitional

category of citizenship to cater for all those present

CUKCS who would not have the right of abode in either the

UK or a British Dependent Territory. There are an

/estimated

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 225Page 226

Share This Page