BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) BILL
KEY POINTS
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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 JUN 1990
The prosperity and future stability of Hong Kong are threatened by the emigration of key professional and business people.
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Such people would prefer to stay in Hong Kong, but at present their only way to be sure of an escape route is actually to emigrate. An offer of British citizenship will encourage these people to stay in Hong Kong, knowing that the escape route is there if ever they actually need it.
This Bill empowers the Home Secretary to register as British citizens up to 50,000 Hong Kong residents recommended by the Governor of Hong Kong under a selection scheme to be approved by Parliament.
These people will play key roles in the continued good running and prosperity of Hong Kong. Individuals from a wide range of occupations will be eligible.
The Bill also provides for the registration of spouses and children under 18, which should mean about 225,000 people.
Those who are registered after being recommended under the scheme will be able to transmit British citizenship to their children. Their spouses and minor children will not be able to do so.
The Bill enables the Governor of Hong Kong, by regulation, to lay down procedures for the selection scheme and to charge application and registration fees.
The detailed scheme will be brought forward at a later date for Parliament to approve, but an explanation of the scheme the Government has in mind is being published now.
The scheme takes account of the different extent to which various groups are emigrating from Hong Kong, and is largely based on a points system designed to make it as objective as possible.
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