FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE HONG KONG EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, IT IS INTENDED THAT THE TITLE OF THE NEW FORM OF NATIONALITY SHOULD BE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS)'. IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY TO DEVISE
A TITLE WHICH MEETS ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS. ON THE ONE HAND IT NEEDS TO BE MADE CLEAR THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH A FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY. NOTHING LESS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IN HONG KONG. ON THE OTHER HAND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE TITLE WE CHOOSE CAN CONTINUE TO BE USED AFTER 1997. FOR THIS TO BE POSSIBLE, THE TITLE MUST CLEARLY CARRY NO IMPLICATION OF A CONTINUING CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG AFTER 1997. I BELIEVE THAT THE TITEL WE HAVE CHOSEN MEETS THESE NEEDS. IT HAS NECESSARILY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CAREFUL CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. THE COMPLETION OF THESE CONSULTATIONS HAS ENABLED ME TO ANNOUNCE THE TITLE. TO THE HOUSE TODAY.
THERE SHOULD NOW BE ADEQUATE TIME TO EXPLAIN THE CHOICE OF THE NEW TITLE.''
3. I WISH TO EXPLAIN TO THE COUNCIL THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH HAVE INFLUENCED THE CHOICE OF TITLE. FIRST, THE STATUS TO BE ACQUIRED AND RETAINED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE UK MEMORANDUM IS A NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY. THE TITLE MUST, THEREFORE, BE DIFFERENT FROM ANY OF THOSE CURRENTLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981. THESE EXISTING TITLES ARE: BRITISH CITIZEN: BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN: BRITISH PROTECTED PERSON: AND BRITISH SUBJECT. THERE IS ALSO THE COLLECTIVE TITLE OF COMMONWEALTH
CITIZEN WHICH APPLIES TO ALL THESE CATEGORIES, EXCEPT BRITISH PROTECTED PERSONS, AS WELL AS TO CITIZENS OF INDEPENDENT
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COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES.