TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 139

Then there are the British Protected Persons and the British

Subjects without Citizenship who have made their homes here; a few of the British Subjects without Citizenship are exempt from immigration control but for the most part they and the British Protected Persons are not exempt. But they, like the citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies mentioned above, have for the most part already been accepted for permanent residence. They are here to stay; and to grant them British Citizenship with the right of entry to the United Kingdom would not involve any new immigration commitment.

(b)

31.

Possible arrangements for those who have the right of

entry but would not become British Citizens

Some people who now, as patrials, have the right of entry to this country 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;

(iii)

citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies from

overseas who were at one time settled in the United

Kingdom and resident here for 5 years, but who can- not meet the residence qualifications for British Citizenship.

Although it is intended that only British Citizens should have the right of entry to the United Kingdom, there might be a case for making some exceptions for the people in these groups and

allowing them to retain their present right of entry for their

lifetimes.