FCO
contribution
B4 CONTRIBUTION
If he were to come here it would be open to him in due course to make an application for registration as a British citizen under section 4 of the British Nationality Act 1981.
As explained in the enclosed leaflet BN12 this provides an entitlement to registration to, among others, British Dependent Territories citizens who have been resident in the United Kingdom for 5 years at the time of application. Absences of up to 90 days a year or 450 days in the qualifying period of 5 years are allowed and there is discretion in special circumstances to allow longer periods of absence. However
applicants are required to be in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the period of 5 years ending with their application unless they are
settled here immediately before the commencement of the Act on 1 January 1983.
As explained in the leaflet the Home Secretary has discretion, in special circumstances, to register an applicant who has been in Crown Service
under the government of a dependent territory or who has been a member of
a body established by law in a dependent territory to which appointments
are made by or on behalf of the Crown. Applications under this section
must be made to the Governor of the dependency concerned. If therefore
the businessman in question thinks he might qualify on these grounds he
should in the first instance write to the Governor of Hong Kong.
As regards the question of the difficulties that have arisen on passports
issued in Hong Kong.......