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replacing ID cards and such procedures for issuing the first batch of BN (0) passports would start in July this year. It would not be compulsory for residents to replace their passports, but those who fail to replace their passports within the prescribed period would be regarded as having voluntarily given up the replacement of BN (0) passports unless very strong reasons can be produced. 1997, residents could only choose between applying to the British Consulate for BOC passports or obtaining a passport from the future SAR Government." Here, Mr. Vickers referred to a possibility of applying for BOC passport from the British Consulate. Nevertheless he did not disclose details as to the circumstances under which such applications would be approved. In the aforesaid commentary of 18 January, the writer quoted I.D. 639 (Rev. 1990) issued by the Immigration Department in 1991 : "HKBDTC passport holders will automatically become British Overseas Citizens on 1 July 1997 if they have not obtained BN(0) passports by 1 July 1997 and do not at the same time hold citizenship or nationality of another country."
ONE CAN DECLARE ONESELF STATELESS AT DISTRICT OFFICES
The paper I.D. 639 (Rev. 1990) issued by the Immigration Department has been replaced by I.D. 639 (Rev. 4/92). In this new "Information on British National (Overseas) Passport and Hong Kong British Dependent Territories Citizen Passport", the item "Loss of British Nationality" has been replaced by the item "Retention of British Nationality" which states, "Under Article 3 of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986, a person who is a British Dependent Territories citizen by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong only shall cease to be such a citizen on 1 July 1997. But (he) may retain British nationality by obtaining a British National (Overseas) passport before that date".
The reason for the deletion of the reference to "automatically becoming" BOCs is, of course, that Britain does not wish to see large numbers of Hong Kong residents choosing not to apply for BN (O) (passports) while waiting to become BOCS automatically. However, the relevant provisions for becoming BOCS will not disappear under the law simply because of the deletion of such wording from the "explanatory note". As a matter of fact, the relevant provisions are already made under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. Article 6(1) of the white paper on the above-mentioned Nationality Order published by the UK Government in London on 17 October 1985 provides : Where a person ceases on 1 July 1997 by virtue of Article 3 to be a British Dependent Territories Citizen and would, but for this paragraph, thereby be rendered stateless, he shall