XN000022-1990-07-11 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1990

35

NATURALISATION REQUIREMENT FOR UK NATIONALITY SCHEME PUBLICISED

* * * *

APPLY SHOULD

FOR

ANY NON-BRITISH SUBJECTS WHO WISH ΤΟ CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE UK NATIONALITY SCHEME NATURALISATION AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS (BDTCS (HK)} BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF THE KONG) BILL 1990, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SASWA

BRITISH

(HONG

BRITISH APPLY FOR KONG) (HONG FORD,

NATIONALITY

HON SIR

DAVID

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ROSANNA TAM, SIR DAVID SAID: "THIS IS A PRE-REQUISITE UNDER THE BILL."

AND

"ANYONE WHO HAS LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS IS NOT SUBJECT TO LIMIT OF STAY CAN APPLY FOR NATURALISATION AS A BDTC, IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE OR NATIONALITY, HE SAID.

++

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

17

"SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS ARE HOWEVER NOT REQUIRED TO MEET THIS NATIONALITY REQUIREMENT, SIR DAVID SAID.

"IT IS EXPECTED THAT ROYAL ASSENT TO THE BILL WILL BE OBTAINED IN LATE JULY.

'ACCORDINGLY, ANYONE WHO DOES NOT FULFIL THE NATIONALITY REQUIREMENT BUT IS INTERESTED IN APPLYING UNDER THE SCHEME IS ADVISED TO APPLY FOR NATURALISATION IMMEDIATELY," THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

NON-BRITISH

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT CONTINUOUS EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS WHO WERE SUBJECTS SHOULD APPLY FOR NATURALISATION AS BDTCS BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.

"THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICISED THIS WHEN THE BILL WAS PUBLISHED

IN

APRIL.

"THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION HAS STRESSED THIS IN MEDIA INTERVIEWS MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS," HE SAID.

THE PUBLIC WAS REMINDED OF THIS REQUIREMENT IN THE PRESS STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL THROUGH ITS SECOND READING IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON JUNE 29.

A FURTHER REMINDER WAS GIVEN IN THE TELEVISION PROGRAMME ON JULY 1, SIR DAVID SAID.

"ACCESS"

"THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ROYAL ASSENT BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH AND FURTHER REMINDERS WILL BE ISSUED, HE ADDED.

H

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