TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 141

35. The ius soli method

Kingdom

-

traditionally used in the United

is simple and inclusive. Anyone who is born here is a citizen unless his father is a diplomat of another

country. This encourages the integration of people from abroad. The child born here to, say, Polish or Indian parents

is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies from birth; he is encouraged in this way to identify himself with this country. Under the ius sanguinis method by contrast he would have to take his parent's nationality, and would only acquire our citizenship by some voluntary act, such as naturalisation. It is possible, under such a system, for successive generations to live in a country and never become citizens.

36. On the other hand, some people might think that the ius soli method is too generous. It confers citizenship indiscriminately on all who happen to be born here, even if for instance the mother is en route elsewhere. The problems caused by transient visitors can, however, be exaggerated; a child born here by accident is not likely by and large to exercise his claim to our citizenship. But it is true that we confer citizenship on children who, though born here, may be brought up and live their lives abroad, and on children whose parents, though entirely unconnected with the United Kingdom, have arranged for the child to be born here to acquire citizenship for its possible usefulness later. On the whole the Government consider that the simplicity and inclusiveness of the ius soli method outweighs its drawbacks.

(b)

Citizenship by adoption

37. Under the Adoption Acts 1958 and 1964 a child who is adopted in the United Kingdom (including, for this purpose,

the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) automatically becomes

a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies if the person

adopting the child is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, or in the case of a joint adoption, the man is such a citizen.