entitlement. But registration and the issuing of a BN(0)
passport will be parts of the same process. There will be
the minimum of necessary formalities. Applicants will apply
simultaneously for BN (0) status and the passport that goes with
it.
In practice registration itself will normally involve no
more than the entry of each persons details on a central record,
which will constitute the register. Furthermore, there will be
no charge for the registration, only for the issue of the
passport.
Scope for amendment
4.
If esential, the term "registration" could be dropped,
and some such term as "recorded" used instead. This would fit
in with Hong Kong's own preference. But it would need to be
carefully worded so as to ensure that the concept of acquisition
of the status, as well as the passport, was retained. It would
also be an undesirable departure from the accepted accepted
structure provided by the British Nationality Act 1981.