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Number of applications for naturalisation
Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In view of the large number of people who have applied for naturalisation last month, will the Administration inform this Council:
Reply:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Mr President,
(a)
of the number of applications for naturalisation received in each of the past 3 years as well as in the first three months of this year;
how long the applicants have to wait for a decision on their applications given that there are only 433 days to the transfer of sovereignty;
whether the successful applicants will be given adequate time to apply for the British National (Overseas) passports; and
how many applications have been rejected in the past 3 years and whether the applicants have been notified of the reasons for the rejection; if not, why not?
The number of applications for naturalisation/ registration as British Dependent Territories citizens in the past three years and in the first three months of this year is as follows:
(b)
Year
1993
1994
1995
1996 (Jan - Mar)
No. of applications
17,391
17,803
34,580
217,603
The Hong Kong Immigration Department aims to complete processing of all outstanding naturalisation/ registration applications by the end of September 1996.