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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1962
FOR EXAMPLE, CURRENTLY ANY BRITISH SUBJECT WHO IS THE SPOUSE OF A HONG KONG BELONGER IS AUTOMATICALLY A HONG KONG BELONGER AND WILL REMAIN SUCH UNDER THE TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS. BUT IN FUTURE A PERSON WHO MARRIES A HONG KONG BELONGER WILL NOT HIMSELF OR HERSELP BE A HONG KONG BELONGER UNLESS HE OR SHE IS A BDTC, OR BECOMES A BDTC BY NATURALISATION IN HONG KONG.
APPLICATIONS FOR NATURAL ISATION IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE CONSIDERED, IF, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR THE THREE YEARS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE DATE OF APPLICATION AND IS FREE OF CONDITIONS OF STAY.
THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE NEED TO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG WILL MEAN THAT NOT EVERY CHILD BORN HERE IN FUTURE WILL BE A HONG KONG BELONGER.
CHILDREN BORN IN HONG KONG FROM JANUARY 1 1983, WILL NOT BE HONG KONG BELONGERS BY BIRTH UNLESS AT LEAST ONE PARENT IS A HONG KONG BELONGER OR SETTLED IN HONG KONG.
+SETTLED+ MEANS BEING ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG AND NOT SUBJECT UNDER THE IMMIGRATION LAWS TO ANY CONDITION OF STAY.
THIS MEANS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, CHILDREN BORN TO PARENTS WHO ARE VISITORS, VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL NOT DE HONG KONG BELONGERS BY BIRTH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ASSUMING THE BILL IS ENACTED AS IT STANDS, HE ADDED, FEWER PEOPLE WILL QUALIFY AS HONG KONG BELONGERS FROM JANUARY 1, 1983 THAN WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN THE CASE.
PROVISIONS FOR THE IMMIGRATION CONTROL OF PERSONS BORN AFTER DECEMBER 31, 1982 IN HONG KONG TO NON-HONG KONG BELONGERS ARE CONTAINED IN THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1982. THIS WILL MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, CHILDREN BORN TO VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WILL THEMSELVES BE REGARDED AS REFUGEES.
THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981 (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 1982 SUBSTITUTES WHEREVER APPROPRIATE IN EXISTING LEGISLATION THE NEW TERMINOLOGY ADOPTED BY THE BNA 1981.
THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL WILL DEAL WITH THE SUBSTITUTION OF A NEW SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR SERVICES SUCH AS REGISTRATION AND NATURALISATION AS A BDTC. THESE FEES ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE AT PRESENT CHARGED FOR COMPARABLE SERVICES.