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All eligible British Dependent Territories citizens will be
entitled to acquire BN (0) status. Acquisition will be by
registration. This is consistent with the long-standing
provision in British nationality law for those exercising
an entitlement to citizenship. But the terms of the
Memorandum, reflecting the particular needs of Hong Kong,
link its acquisition to the holding of a BN(0) passport.
The passport, together with the central register which
will be maintained, will be evidence of the new status.
So Article 4 provides a clear entitlement to hold a BN (0)
passport. As the House will know, there is generally no
entitlement to hold British passports which are issued
under the Royal Prerogative. But the Order makes it clear
that those affected are entitled not only to BN (0) status but
also to a passport showing that status, in line with the
UK Memorandum associated with the Joint Declaration.
The formalities going with registration will be kept to a minimum.
We envisage only that each person's particulars will be
entered on a central register. No separate fee will be
charged for this. The detailed arrangements will be worked
out with Hong Kong between now and 1987, and it will be
necessary to make regulations to govern these in the normal
way under the British Nationality Act 1981.
Article 6 sets out the Government's proposals for reducing
statelessness. This is a matter of considerable importance and
understandable interest. The Government has given
the matter the most careful thought. The Joint Declaration
guarantees to all Hong Kong BDTCs, except those who have
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