CONFIDENTIAL
5074
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THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES, AND THUS TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR
CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NATIONALITY OR
IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PARENTS.
LOSS OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENSHIP.
19.
ARTICLE 3 PROVIDES FOR THOSE PEOPLE IDENTIFIED UNDER
ARTICLE 2(1) AS BDTCS BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG TO
LOSE THAT CITIZENSHIP ON 1 JULY 1997. BUT IT DOES NOT AFFECT
THOSE PERSONS WHO CAN ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT ROUTE TO BDT
CITIZENSHIP BY AN EXCLUSIVE CONNECTION WITH ANOTHER DEPENDENT
TERRITORY. SUCH PEOPLE WILL NOT COME WITHIN ARTICLE 3(B),
WILL THEREFORE AUTOMATICALLY BE EXCEPTED FROM LOSS OF THEIR BDT
CITIZENSHIP. EXAMPLES OF SUCH A PERSON ARE:
AND
A) A PERSON BORN AFTER 1 JANUARY 1983 IN BANGKOK TO A
FATHER WHO WAS BORN IN HONG KONG AND A MOTHER WHO WAS
BORN IN GIBRALTAR:
B) A CHILD ADOPTED AFTER 1 JANUARY 1983 IN BERMUDA WHERE
THE MOTHER IS A BDTC BY VIRTUE OF BIRTH IN HONG KONG, AND
THE FATHER IS A BDTC BY VIRTUE OF BIRTH IN THE
CAYMAN ISLANDS.
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE NEW STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS). 20.
ARTICLE 4(1) SPECIFIES THE DATE ON WHICH BN(0) WILL COME INTO BEING. FOR THE REASONS EXPLAINED IN PARAGRAPH 8 ABOVE IT IS
INTENDED THAT IT SHOULD BE INTRODUCED 10 YEARS BEFORE 1 JULY
1997.
21.
ARTICLE 4(2) ENABLES HONG KONG BDTCS WHO WILL LOSE THAT
CITIZENSHIP ON 1 JULY 1997 TO HAVE AN ENTITLEMENT TO ACQUIRE
BN(0) STATUS BY REGISTRATION. THE REFERENCE TO PASSPORTS IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE WORDING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM MEMORANDUM.
22.
ARTICLE 4(3) ACCORDS WITH THE TERMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
MEMORANDUM. IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO ACQUIRE BN(0) STATUS A
PERSON MUST BE A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN ON 30 JUNE
1997. A PERSON WHO ACQUIRES BN (0) STATUS AND SUBSEQUENTLY
RENOUNCES OR IS DEPRIVED OF BDTC STATUS BEFORE 30 JUNE 1997 WILL
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CONFIDENTIAL