}
During the course of the British Nationality Act 1981
through Parliament, the point was made in Committee that British
Dependent Territories citizens will be considered to be 'UK
nationals'. However, the term 'UK national' only has meaning
in the context of public international law; a 'UK national' would enjoy, for example the protection (internationally) of the United Kingdom. The phrase has no meaning in domestic law,
either now or when the British Nationality Act 1981 comes
into force. The Act distinguishes between various categories of citizenship for domestic purposes, all of whom are 'UK
nationals'. These are British citizens (having the right of
abode in the United Kingdom), British Dependent Territories citizens and British Overseas citizens (a residual category).
In describing British Dependent Territories citizens for
passport purposes, the terms of the BNA 1981 must be strictly adhered to./
#ny variant of the title of British Dependent Territories citizen inapassport by adding the name of a particular dependent territory in brackets or following a colon or dash would imply that the name of that territory was part of the strict title of the citizenship possessed by the passport holder. The BNA 1981 makes no provision for such variants and to use them would amount to a modification of the terms of the BNA 1981. In some cases, variations of the title could even suggest there was a further category of citizenship, a category for which the BNA 1981 makes no provision. The unitary concept of British Dependent Territories citizenship would also be undermined. Finally, modifications of the title will only serve to confuse foreign immigration officials.
A