territory the UK Government is making special arrangements to
grant British Citizenship (and thus right of abode in the UK)
to those people in Hong Kong who are vital to the territory's
continuing administration and prosperity. This will give an
assurance for the future without the recipients needing to
leave Hong Kong and the UK Government believes that this will
encourage those key people to stay in the territory.
The British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990, which became law
➤ on 26 July, sets the framework for the new arrangements and enables the Home Secretary to register as British citizens up
to 50,000 Hong Kong residents, plus their spouses and their
children, who are recommended for registration by the Governor
of Hong Kong. The principal beneficiaries will also be able
to pass British Citizenship to any future spouses or children but the Citizenship will not be transmitted beyond that. The
Government's estimate is that the total number of people who will acquire British Citizenship under these arrangements will not exceed 225,000.
The details of the scheme for selecting the 50,000 Hong Kong residents will be set out in subordinate legislation which
will go before Parliament in Autumn 1990. Over 70% of the
available places will be available for general allocation to applicants from a wide range of occupations in Hong Kong. Applications will be divided into broad occupational groups
business and management, accountancy, engineering,
information sciences, medicine and science, law and education
- and the places available for each group will depend on the rate at which members of that group are emigrating. The
individual applications will be assessed on a points system
for age, experience, qualifications, special circumstances,
proficiency in English, British links and community service.
In this way the general allocation scheme will target
assurances at those key workers who are most likely to leave
and are most needed in Hong Kong.
In addition some of the 50,000 places will be set aside for
the disciplined services police and prison officers etc.