XN000022-1993-05-06 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1993

EXCO DECIDES TO IMPLEMENT BN(0) CONVERSION PROGRAMME

THE GO

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAVING CONSIDERED CAREFULLY THE VIEWS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SUB-COMMITTEE ON NATIONALITY, HAS DECIDED AHEAD WITH A PHASED PROGRAMME FOR REGISTERING BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS (BDTCS) AS BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS) (BN(O)'S) AND FOR ISSUING THEM WITH PASSPORTS,

ᎪᎢ A MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY) WITH THE SUB-COMMITTEE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR KEN WOODHOUSE, EMPHASISED THE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE PHASED PROGRAMME AND REASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD LAUNCH AN INTENSIVE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN то DRAW THE ATTENTION OF ELIGIBLE BD'TCS TO THE TIMETABLE AND THE CUT-OFF DATES APPLICABLE TO RESPECTIVE AGE GROUPS.

HE STRESSED THAT THE ACQUISITION OF THE BN (0) STATUS WOULD ABSOLUTELY VOLUNTARY,

"ONLY THOSE WHO WISH ΤΟ CONTINUE то PASSPORT BEYOND 1997 AND DO NOT ALREADY HAVE A APPLY, HE SAID.

I

BE

TRAVEL BN (0)

ON A BRITISH PASSPORT NEED

ADMINISTRATION

AT THE REQUEST OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE, THE CONSULTED EXCO ONCE AGAIN ON TUESDAY (MAY 4) ON THIS SUBJECT.

HAD

"EXCO HAS DIRECTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD ASK THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDER IN COUNCIL TO PARLIAMENT, IMPOSING CUT-OFF DATES FOR APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF BDTCS AS BN(0)'S AND FOR REGISTRATION OR NATURALISATION AS BDTC'S AND ALLOWING A DISCRETION то APPROVE LATE APPLICATIONS, MR WOODHOUSE SAID.

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APPLICATIONS

THE ORDER WILL CONTAIN PROVISIONS FOR ACCEPTING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PREVENTED FROM APPLYING ON TIME BY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS HOSPITALISATION DURING AN APPLICANT'S PHASE; BUT SIMPLY WANTING MORE TIME TO CONSIDER WOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS A VALID REASON.

MR WOODHOUSE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD CAREFULLY RE- CONSIDERED THE SUB-COMMITTEE'S CONCERNS AND DOUBTS.

"OUR VIEW REMAINS THAT THE PHASED PROGRAMME IS THE ONLY WAY GUARANTEE THAT ALL BDTCS WHO WANT A BN (0) CAN SECURE ONE.

ΤΟ

"IF THE PROGRAMME WAS TO RE WITHDRAWN, ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD SUFFER ARE THOSE BDTCS WHO WISH TO OBTAIN A BN(0) PASSPORT BUT FAIL TO DO SO BECAUSE THEIR APPLICATIONS COULD NOT BE PROCESSED IN TIME BEFORE THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY," HE SAID.

DELAY

COULD

MR WOODHOUSE POINTED OUT THAT, BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBERS

(POSSIBLY 3.4 MILLION APPLICANTS), THE RIGHT то FOR REGISTRATION AS A BN(0) RIGHT UP TO JUNE 30, 1997 NOT IN PRACTICE BE GRANTED.

INVOLVED APPLYING

WEEKS

"LARGE NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN THE LAST FEW OR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY COULD NOT BE PROCESSED BY JUNE 30, 1997. THE PHASED PROGRAMME GIVES ALL BDTC'S A FAIR AND EQUAL CHANCE AND REASONABLE TIME TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS AND A GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR BN(0) STATUS, HE SAID.

tr

/HE ALSO