4.
Royal
As
a
consequence
in April
the Hong Kong
last year.
Assent
was
passed
Act
other Among
and received
that matters
Act
provided for the ending of British sovereignty and jurisdiction over
Hong Kong.
of the Schedule to the Act allows for
Paragraph 2
provision to be made by Order in Council for the ending on 1 July 1997 of British Dependent Territories citizenship for those having
such citizenship through a connection with Hong Kong. Similarly it
allows for those who were such citizens on that date to acquire as
of right
new form of nationality,
as British Nationality
(Overseas); for the necessary arrangements for making applications
status and for the avoidance of statelessness.
a
for the new
known
5.
The
framework.
Its
not to
framework has therefore already been established by the agreement and by the Hong Kong Act 1985. The Order in Council which
will follow must
that keep within
is role
reopen questions already considered and approved by the House, but
to establish the detailed arrangements which will be give effect to the provisions set out in the agreement and the Act.
necessary
to
6.
the
The Government undertook in
on to points made response
both
sides of the
House during the debate on
to put the Hong Kong Bill
forward its detailed
for proposals
in good nationality Order
time
to be debated and if
its invited to give
the Order
form which would
amended, before the
them allow
House was
The White Paper containing
in and
a
necessary
approval.
was
This
published in
of Hong Kong have
we have done.
H on
Members
had
have now
a
to full opportunity
a
chance
to express
the UK and in Hong Kong on 17 October. The people
comment on the
their views.
Order.
The
Government will listen carefully to these views. We shall consider
particularly whether
we
should
amend
any
of
the provisions
Order attached to the White Paper. And we
in the
shall then lay formally a
draft nationality Order before Easter.
(2)