NATIONALITY BILL
FCO and Home Office officials should now consider amendments
to the Nationality Bill on the following lines which would be
compatible with UK concerns im immigration and Hong Kong's
concern about erosion of their existing position:
a) To give Dependent Territories' Citizens the right
to register as British Citizens after 5 years in
the United Kingdom.
b) A provision giving the Home Secretary discretion 'in
the special circumstances of a particular case' to
treat persons who have rendered substantial service
to the Crown under the Government of a dependency
as satisfying the statutory requirements for
naturalisation or registration.
c) A provision to allow public service overseas to count
towards the residence requirement for naturalisation
or registration after the person concerned has taken
up residence in the United Kingdom.
d) To allow easier access to British Citizenship for a
CBDT married to a British Citizen.