CONFIDENTIAL
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LAND COMMISSION MANAGES THIS INCOME IN TRUST, THROUGH A HONG KONG
SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT LAND FUND AND AN INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, BOTH OF WHICH WERE SET UP IN AUGUST 1986.
THE FUND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO GROW SO THAT A VERY
SUBSTANTIVE SUM WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT IN
1997.
(D)
NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS
FOLLOWING DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT AND CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE
OF HONG KONG AN ORDER IN COUNCIL WAS MADE ON 5 JUNE 1986 UNDER
THE TERMS OF THE HONG KONG ACT 1985. THIS PROVIDES FOR PERSONS
WHO ARE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS BY VIRTUE OF A
CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG TO LOSE THAT STATUS ON 1 JULY 1997 BUT
TO BE ENTITLED TO ACQUIRE BEFORE THAT DATE A NEW STATUS, TO BE
KNOWN AS BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS), TOGETHER WITH A BRITISH
PASSPORT RECORDING THAT STATUS. THE ORDER ALSO MAKES PROVISION
TO GUARD AGAINST STATELESSNESS. IT PROVIDES FOR ANY BRITISH
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS WHO LOSE THAT STATUS ON 1 JULY
1997 AUTOMATICALLY TO BECOME BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS IF THEY
HAVE NOT ACQUIRED BN(0) STATUS AND IF THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE
STATELESS. THE CHILDREN OF FORMER HONG KONG BDTCS BORN ON OR
AFTER THAT DATE WILL ALSO BE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS
AUTOMATICALLY AT BIRTH IF OTHERWISE STATELESS. THE GRANDCHILDREN
OF FORMER HONG KONG BDTCS WILL BE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS
BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS IF BORN STATELESS.
THE ORDER WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON 1 JULY 1987. PASSPORTS
BEARING THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) WILL BE ISSUED
FROM THAT DATE.
DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE ORDER THROUGH PARLIAMENT HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT TOOK INTO CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THREE SPECIFIC
REQUESTS MADE BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG: THAT THE
PASSPORTS OF BN (0)S SHOULD CONTAIN AN ENDORSEMENT TO THE EFFECT
THAT VISAS OR ENTRY CERTIFICATES WERE NOT REQUIRED FOR VISITS TO
THE UK: THAT EX-WORLD WAR II SERVICE VETERANS IN HONG KONG SHOULD
BE GRANTED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP: AND THAT ETHNIC MINORITY (I.E
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CONFIDENTIAL