TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 138

27. The British Protected Persons who would qualify for

citizenship in this way would for the most part have come to this country from East Africa for permanent settlement, entering under the special voucher scheme. They were admitted in this way because they faced the same problems as citizens

of the United Kingdom and Colonies there and for the purposes of the new citizenship there would seem to be no reason to treat them differently when they are settled in the United

Kingdom.

28. The origins of the status of British Subjects without Citizenship are described above in paragraphs 4 and 7. The numbers who would be eligible for citizenship through their residence in the United Kingdom must be very small since British Subjects without Citizenship who have made their home in the United Kingdom have been eligible for registration as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies since 1949 (for most of the time as of right).

THE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES ON THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN THE

UNITED KINGDOM

(a)

29.

Those who would acquire the right of entry for the first time

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. But most of these people are already exempt from immigration control, and conferring British Citizenship on them would not affect immigration to this country.

30. There are, however, three groups who are not free from immigration control at present; they would therefore acquire the right of entry for the first time. There are those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies from overseas who have been resident here for less than 5 years, and their wives. But they have in most cases already been accepted for permanent residence. To grant them citizenship would not commit the United Kingdom to accepting any new group of permanent residents.