CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: P F Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
HKD 34011
DATE: 3 July 1992
Mr Hum
PS/Mr Goodlad
cc: Mr Morris, HKD
Miss Brooks,
Legal Counsellor
Mr Harrington, NTCD
ARRANGEMENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT
TERRITORY CITIZENS (BDTCs) AS BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS)
(BN (O)s)
Problem
1.
The Hong Kong Government wish to encourage over
3 million BDTCs to register as BN (0)s in an orderly manner
before 1 July 1997 so as to avoid a last minute rush of
applications in 1997. How to achieve this?
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that Ministers approve in principle the
drafting of an Order in Council making transitional
arrangements and setting cut-off dates for BDTCs and BN (0)s,
and that we should seek further clarification of HKG's
proposed series of cut-off dates. Our Legal Counsellor has
been consulted. Home Office Ministers, who will be
responsible for the Order in Council, have now approved
these arrangements in principle.
Background
3.
BDTC status for the people of Hong Kong will disappear on 1 July 1997 when the territory is handed over to China.
JH4ABQ/1
JRB
CONFIDENTIAL
so