11.
However,
The underlying object of the Order is that those
persons defined as BDTCs by virtue of a connection with
Hong Kong should lose that status in 1997.
because of the way in which citizenship of the United
Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) was acquired under the BNA
1948, and the way in which BDTC is acquired under the
BNA 1981, some people may have become BDTCs by virtue
not only of a connection with Hong Kong, but also by a
quite separate and independent connection with another
Munibis reperal that Dependent Territory. It would not be right for such
people to lose their BDTC in 1997, and they are protected
from loss by Article 3.
Registration as BN (0)s
12.
In order to fit in with the way in which our
citizenship has traditionally been acquired for many
years, Ministers agreed that acquisition of BN (0) status
should be by registration.
13. Hong Kong resisted this proposal for a long time.
They wanted the Order to refer simply to the acquisition
of BN (0) passports. They accepted the argument that
passports flow from nationality status and not the other
way round, but they argued that the term "registration"
was an emotive one, and likely to conjure up in the
minds of the Hong Kong public a lengthy administrative
process. We have been at pains to expain that the
registration process itself will be a formality; that
it will be an integral part of the passport issuing
process; and that it will amount to little more than
the entry of each persons details on a central record.
Furthermore there will be no charge for the registration
itself, but simply for the passport. Applicants will
apply simultaneously for BN (0) status and the passport
that goes with it. By this means the integrity of the
relationship between nationality and passports, and
consistency with the BNA are maintained. Hong Kong
have, somewhat reluctantly, now accepted
this.
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