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right of abode in the UK, which of course they do not possess at present, but it will entitle them to continue to use British passports and to receive British consular protection in third countries. The status will not be transmissible by descent.
4.
This form of British nationality will be acquired only by those who obtain a passport pertaining to the form of nationality before 1 July 1997. The only exceptions to this will be:
(a)
(b)
(c)
people included on the passport of another member of their family before 1 July 1997 will be considered to have acquired the form of nationality and will be able to obtain a passport of their own after that date;
people who apply for a passport immediately before 1 July 1997 but have not by then obtained one will also be considered to have acquired the form of nationality and will be issued with the passport after that date;
people who were born between 1 January and
1 July 1997 will be able to acquire the form of nationality if they apply for a passport, or to be put on the passport of a member of their family, before 1 December 1997.
5. Arrangements will be made for those who hold BDTC passports by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong to obtain passports pertaining to the new form of nationality when their BDTC passports become due for removal. Those who do not hold BDTC passports but wish to obtain passports pertaining to the new form of nationality will be able to do so by applying in the normal way and on production of proof of their BDTC status. Details will be published after the relevant legislation has been passed in the UK.
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