}
6
All Hong Kong 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 the Government has given it the most careful thought. The Joint Declaration guarantees to all those BDTCS, except those who have
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