This
I. JCWI's report "A Question of Belonging: British nationality law and the future of Hong Kong" (November 1985) considers the fundamental changes needed in British nationality law to satisfy the needs of all the people of Hong Kong for a secure and effective citizenship. briefing concentrates on the immediate and practical implications of the draft Order in Council (Cmnd 9637) for British people in Hong Kong, the majority of whom primarily want a continuing British status which will ensure easy travel from and return to Hong Kong.
2. The draft Order in Council:
* specifies what is meant by a "connection with Hong Kong" (s.2).
* provides for the loss of British Dependent Territories citizenship on 1 July 1997 by people who hold it only because of a connection with Hong Kong (s.3).
* provides for British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs) with a connection with Hong Kong to acquire a new status (British National (Overseas)) on or after 1 July 1987 (s.4). * contains "provisions for reducing statelessness": the offer of British Overseas citizenship to Hong Kong BDTCs, or their children or grandchildren, who have no other nationality (s.6).
3.
There are two main practical areas where further assurances and clarifications are needed:
the process of becoming a British National (Overseas) under the Order.
* measures to ensure the international acceptability of the new passports and to eliminate doubts about their holders' immigration status.
4. Becoming a British National (Overseas)
4.1 The draft Order gives Hong Kong BDTCs a right to register as BN(0)s (s.4(2)). It does not specify how this will be done. The Introduction to the Order (para.7, p.3) says that "arrangements will be made for those eligible to become BN(0)s to apply, if they so wish, for that status......