CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG LEGISLATION: PUBLIC RELATIONS
Possible Questions Following Publication
LEGISLATION
1.
Why separate legislation?
2.
Will existing provisions of BNA continue to apply?
3. Will citizenship still be granted under Section 4(5) to Crown servants?
4. Will Section 4(5) be used more widely?
5. What does the Bill do?
6. Why not deal with
selection process within the Bill?
7.
Will Parliament have opportunity to scrutinise scheme?
Special self-contained measure to deal with the unique situation facing Hong Kong. BNA 1981 remains intact.
Yes, where appropriate.
Yes, where applicants meet the criteria laid down in the Act.
Each case dealt with on its individual merits.
Parliament advised that provision will be used only sparingly. Do not expect it to be used any more or less sparingly.
Bill enables Sofs to register as British citizens up to 50,000 persons recommended by the Governor under a scheme to be
approved by Parliament.
It
enables the spouse and minor children of a successful applicant to be registered as British citizens.
Keeping scheme separate allows it to be changed (with Parliamentary
approval) to reflect
changing needs of HK without going through the full legislative process.
Proposed scheme will be discussed during passage of
the Bill. It will be
amended if necessary in the
light of Parliamentary discussions. The final
version will be subject to
Parliamentary approval
following enactment of the Bill.
CONFIDENTIAL