G.F. 324
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3
4.
It should be borne in mind that the UK's remaining
dependencies have remained dependent because they represent intract- able problems for a variety of reasons which usually do not involve any conscious choice on the part of their inhabitants. Through no
F
fault of their own, those CUKCS connected by birth, etc. with
:
.:
the dependencies find themselves being separated by HMG's
104.
unilateral action from CUKCS connected with the UK, and being given a new name of "Citizens of the British Dependent Territories" (CBDTs) which does not fully reflect HMG's constitutional relation- ship with the territories or the British commitment to them.
5.
:
In practical terms, too, the implications of the new CBDT category for the remaining dependencies do not appear to have been thoroughly considered by HMG.. While the Bill makes it clear that British citizenship would be limited to those connected by birth, etc. with the UK, and that British citizenship will in future be more or less synonymous with the right of abode in the UK, it is content to leave the right of abode in individual dependencies to the separate devices of the dependencies' individual immigration laws. HMG has argued that CUKC is no longer workable as a a common citizenship because it confuses those who have a right of abode in the UK with those who do not. The Bill would make the position clear for the UK, but would leave the remaining dependencies in a continuing state of confusion as regards the right of abode in each
of them.
6.
For the same reasons as those which necessitate their continuing dependent status, individual separate citizenships for some of the remaining dependencies are not an acceptable option since, constitutionally as well as by tradition, these would connote independent status.
7.
(a)
(b)
A compromise is required which would:
satisfy HMG's desire to equate British citizenship with the right of abode in the UK;
enable each remaining dependency similarly to equate its citizenship with the right of abode in the territory;
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/(c).