2
Government Representatives
Mr. N. YEK, J.P.
DO (WTS)
CNTA
Mr. F.S. Kavanagh, C.P.M. DC(WTS)
RHKPF
Mr. Kwok Ka-chi
RO(KE)
SWD
Mr. FUNG Chi-lap
SHM(TWS)
HD
Mr. CHAN Tak-hing Mr. HU Man-hing Mr. IP Shing-wai Mr. Johnny WOO
CTO(K)
TD
CPWO (WTS)
UADO
Sr. Supt/KE
USD
CM(LS)
USD
In Attendance
Mr. Paul WONG
ADO(SD)
CNTA
Mr. Simon LORD
ADO (WTS/W)
CNTA
Miss Rosa CHAN
ADO (WTS/E)
CNTA
Mr. Stanley TO
EO(DB)1/WTS
CNTA
In Attendance by Invitation
Dr. S.S. LAI Mrs. Carrie LAM
Mr. LAI Tung-kwok
CP/YE
Asst. Secy for
Security Sr. Imm.
Officer
Secretary
:
Mr. W. YAM
M&HD
Security
Branch
ID
SEO (DB)/WTS
CNTA
Discussion Item
(a)
13.
White Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 (WTSDB Paper 221/85)
In her brief introduction of the White Paper, Mrs. Carrie LAM highlighted the main provision in the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. She added that as Hong Kong people who were BDTC by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong would lose that citizenship on 1 July 1997,
However, it followed that BN (0) status had to be granted before this date. whether a BDTC would exercise his right to register as a BN (0) status was entirely optional. With regard to the reasons for implementing the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 w.e.f. July 1987, Mrs. Carrie LAM explained that it was necessary in order to maintain the practice of issuing passports with a 10-year validity period. Furthermore this arrangement had the advantage of giving maximum time for the issuing authority to cope with applications for BN (0) passports and for third countries to become familiar with this new nationality status. Mrs. Carrie LAM further said that the Draft Order had also made provisions for reducing statelessness but they were more relevant to the non-Chinese BDTCs. Under the Order, those who could not acquire the new BN (0) status on or before 1 July 1997 and became stateless would automatically be granted w.e.f. the same date a British Overseas Citizen (BCC) status which could be passed on automatically to their second generations and to third generations by registration if they were born stateless.