8
also give maximum time for the issuing authorities to
cope with applications for BN (0) passports, and for
third countries to grow accustomed to the new
nationality status.
Connections with Hong Kong
9.
Articles 2 and 3 should be read with the
provisions of paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Schedule to
the Hong Kong Act.
10.
Article 2 (1) defines BDTCS who are such by
virtue of a connection with Hong Kong and who, unless
they are also BDTCs by virtue of a separate
connection with another dependent territory, will
therefore lose their BDTC status on 1 July 1997, and
be entitled to acquire BN (O) status (see paragraph
below). It encompasses all the Hong Kong BDTCs
listed in Annex 2, although in fact the great
majority (about 3.18 million) of the roughly three
and a quarter million BDTCS in Hong Kong are BDTCs by
birth, and about 53,000 are BDTCs by registration or
naturalisation. The various categories covered by
article 2 (1) (a) to article 2 (1) (f) are dealt with in
paragraphs 11 to 16 below.