TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 155

apply for British Citizenship, or acquire another by virtue of marriage,might be allowed to keep both their citizenships (provided the laws of the other country concerned permit this). Such persons would then still have the right of entry to their own country of origin if the marriage failed. (f) Civic Privileges

68.

An important aspect of citizenship is the privileges associated with it. In this country the common status of British subject held in our law not only by citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies but by all other Commonwealth citizens carries with it voting and other privileges. There are also special arrangements

Such privileges do not stem

for citizens of the Irish Republic. directly from the law of nationality and so are not dealt with

in this document.

A BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

69. The core of this status would be those who have ties with

an existing dependency. The status might therefore be conferred in the first place on those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies born, naturalised or registered in an existing dependency or whose fathers were so born, naturalised or registered. Some of these people might be eligible for British Citizenship too in one of the ways described in paragraphs 21-25; but in general only British Overseas Citizens would have a right of entry to a dependency so it is important that any British Citizen suitably connected with a dependency should hold British Overseas Citizenship as well in order to secure his right of entry there.

70.

The transitional arrangements would also have to cover all other citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who do not become British Citizens. These hold their present citizen- ship for a variety of reasons. Some have connections with the