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HKR 340/l
''
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
31084
1
*cion, Texe
394A
GRS 415
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FM FCO 081500Z OCT 81
PA
ло
Jiu, 10 PGD 15/10
TO PRIORITY CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
GUIDANCE TELEGRAM NUMBER 140 OF 8 OCTOBER 1981
NATIONALITY BILL
1. A GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONALITY BILL, WHICH
WAS ACCEPTED BY THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON 6 OCTOBER, REPLACES
THE PROVISIONS OF CLAUSE 3 WHICH WOULD HAVE ENTITLED A CHILD
TO REGISTRATION AS A BRITISH CITIZEN IF EITHER OF HIS PARENTS
HAD MAINTAINED A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM
THROUGH EMPLOYMENT. THE NEW PROVISIONS WILL ENABLE CITIZENSHIP
TO DESCEND TO THE SECOND GENERATION BORN OVERSEAS PROVIDED ONLY
THAT ONE OF THE PARENTS BORN IN THE FIRST GENERATION OVERSEAS
HAS LIVED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THREE YEARS. THE RESIDENCE
REQUIREMENT WILL NOT APPLY TO A CHILD BORN STATELESS.
LINE TO TAKE
2.
YOU SHOULD NOT INITIATE DISCUSSION ON WHY THIS AMENDMENT
HAS BEEN MADE AT THIS LATE STAGE. HOWEVER, IF PRESSED, YOU MAY
SAY THAT THE PROVISIONS IN CLAUSE 3 WHICH THE AMENDMENT REPLACES
ATTRACTED A GREAT DEAL OF CRITICISM ON THE GROUNDS OF THEIR
COMPLEXITY, LACK OF CLARITY, AND THEIR ANOMALOUS EFFECT ON PEOPLE
IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF EMPLOYMENT. FOR THESE REASONS THE
GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO INTRODUCE NEW PROVISIONS WHICH AVOID THESE
DIFFICULTIES.
BACKGROUND (MAY BE USED FREELY)
3. THE GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT TO THE BILL PROVIDES A CLEAR
ENTITLEMENT TO REGISTRATION FOR THE CHILD BORN OVERSEAS IN THE
SECOND GENERATION. THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION MUST BE MADE
WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWELVE MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE BIRTH,
/ALTHOUGH
1
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