TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 114

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dependency might aquire British Overseas Citizenship automatically only if his father (or mother if the child is illegitimate) is a British Overseas Citizen born, register or naturalised in an existing dependency.

RIGHT OF ENTRY TO BRITAIN

5. One of the main defects in our present law is that Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, as its name implies, relates. both to the United Kingdom and overseas territories; it does not identify those who belong to the United Kingdom and have the right to enter and live there freely; in consequence it prevents the Unite Kingdom from basing its immigration policies on citizenship. United Kingdom citizenship is in these respects different from the citizen- ships of many other countries including our partners in the European Community.

5. It is not intended that changes in the nationality law should affect anyone's existing rights of immigration into the United Kingdom and any fears on this score are unjustified.

7.

British Citizenship would carry with it the right of entry to this country. So everyone who becomes a British Citizen under the transitional arrangements would have such a right of entry. most of these people are already exempt from immigration control.

8.

f

But

Some people who now, as patrials, have the right of entry to the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971 would not become British Citizens if the law were amended as suggested above.

These are:-

i. citizens of a Commonwealth country with a parent (in

practice almost invariably the mother) who was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth in the United Kingdom;

ii.

Women Commonwealth citizens who have the right of entry at present because, and only because, their husbands have the right of entry:

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iii. citizens