CONFIDENTIAL
55994
1
THEY ARE GUARANTEED THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG AND FREEDOM OF TRAVEL (SEE PARAGRAPH 10 BELOW). THE HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986 HAS BEEN MADE TO ENABLE THE UNITED KINGDOM TO IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ASSOCIATED UK
MEMORANDUM.
LEGISLATION
2.
THE ORDER IN COUNCIL WAS DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT IN JANUARY AND MAY 1986 AND FINALLY MADE ON 5 JUNE 1986.
NATIONAL STATUS
3.
THE ORDER PROVIDES THAT PERSONS WHO ARE BDTCS BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG WILL LOSE THAT STATUS FROM 1 JULY 1997 WHEN HONG KONG CEASES TO BE A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY AND BECOMES A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. BUT BEFORE 1 JULY 1997 ALL HONG KONG BDTCS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE A NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY, TO BE CALLED BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) (BN(0)) AND TO RETAIN THIS NEW STATUS FOR THEIR LIFETIMES. (PERSONS BORN BETWEEN 1 JANUARY 1997 AND 30 JUNE 1997 WILL HAVE UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 1997 TO ACQUIRE THE NEW STATUS). BN(0) STATUS WILL BE ACQUIRED ONLY IF A PERSON HOLDS OR IS INCLUDED IN A PASSPORT SHOWING THAT STATUS. 4. THE NEW STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) WILL BE INTRODUCED WITH EFFECT FROM (NEXT THREE WORDS UNDERLINED) 1 JULY 1987. THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL GIVE THE ISSUING AUTHORITIES SUFFICIENT TIME TO COPE WITH APPLICATIONS FOR PASSPORTS,
WILL BE ISSUED FROM THAT DATE.
5.
WHICH
PERSONS WHO ACQUIRE BN(0) STATUS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENSHIP CONCURRENTLY UNTIL 1 JULY 1997 WHEN THE LATTER WILL BE LOST. HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO HOLD A PASSPORT IN EACH NATIONAL STATUS SIMULTANEOUSLY. A BDTC WHO APPLIES FOR BN(0) STATUS WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAND IN HIS BDTC PASSPORT (IF ANY) FOR CANCELLATION. HONG KONG BDTCS WHO DO NOT CHOOSE TO ACQUIRE THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) AND WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BECOME STATELESS ON 1 JULY 1997 WILL BECOME BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS ON
THAT DATE.
RIGHTS
2
CONFIDENTIAL