CONFIDENTIAL
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THUS
DISPOSAL PROGRAMME FOR THE PERIOD FROM 27 MAY 1985, WHEN THE
JOINT DECLARATION ENTERED INTO FORCE, TO 31 MARCH 1986. THE PROGRAMME AGREED FOR THIS TEN-MONTH PERIOD WAS 58 HECTARES.
THE LAND COMMISSION IMMEDIATELY DEMONSTRATED THE FLEXIBILITY
PROVIDED FOR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION BY AGREEING ON A PROGRAMME EXCEEDING THE ANNUAL LIMIT OF 50 HECTARES SPECIFIED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. EVEN BEFORE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON THE OVERALL LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME, THE COMMISSION AUTHORISED SEVERAL LOTS OF LAND TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTS SET OUT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, WITH TERMS RUNNING UP TO 2047. (E) (NEXT THREE WORDS UNDERLINED) NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS 10. PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE HONG KONG ACT 1985
PROVIDES FOR A NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL TO BE MADE TO GIVE
EFFECT TO THE TERMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM MEMORANDUM ASSOCIATED
WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION. A WHITE PAPER CONTAINING A DRAFT OF
THIS ORDER IN COUNCIL WAS PUBLISHED ON 17 OCTOBER 1985 IN LONDON AND HONG KONG (CMND 9637). THE DRAFT ORDER PROVIDES FOR BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITZENS BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG
KONG TO LOSE THAT STATUS ON 1 JULY 1997 BUT TO BE ABLE TO APPLY
BEFORE THAT DATE FOR A NEW STATUS, TO BE KNOWN AS BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS), TOGETHER WITH A BRITISH PASSPORT RECORDING THAT STATUS, AND TO RETAIN IT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THE DRAFT ORDER ALSO MAKES PROVISIONS TO GUARD AGAINST STATELESSNESS. THE ORDER PROVIDES FOR ANY BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS WHO LOSE THAT STATUS ON 1 JULY 1997 AUTOMATICALLY TO BECOME BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS IF THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE STATELESS.
THEIR CHILDREN BORN ON OR AFTER THAT DATE WILL ALSO BECOME
BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS AUTOMATICALLY AT BIRTH IF OTHERWISE
STATELESS. THEIR GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTER AS
BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS IF BORN STATELESS. THE DRAFT ORDER
WILL BE DEBATED IN A PRELIMINARY WAY ONCE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG
AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
ON IT.
HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE CAREFUL NOTE OF POINTS
RAISED IN THESE DEBATES AND WILL CONSIDER IF THESE CALL FOR ANY
CHANGES TO BE MADE IN THE TERMS OF THE DRAFT ORDER BEFORE IT IS
RE-PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL UNDER AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION
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