TNAG-0660-FCO40-809-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 89

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ANNEX B

H. M. G. 's GREEN PAPER ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY LAW

The Home Secretary presented to the British Parliament today a Green Paper on possible changes in British Nationality Law. The n Green Paper is a consultative document; the British Government has n not reached any firm conclusions on the recommendations and proposals in the Paper. The Paper is intended to provide a framework for public discussion on a number of complex issues relating to nationality and citizenship. obezatementless

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The Paper emphasises that the British Government does not intend to introduce early legislation to implement the proposals in the; Green Paper: there will be ample time for it to be studied and discussed: the interval between publication and the enactment of any new legislation that may be required is specifically designed to allow for further study and consultation,

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3. Commenting on the publication of the Green Paper, a Hong Kong Government spokesman said that the British Government had given an en assurance that the proposals did not have any implications for the constitutional relationship between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. He also pointed out that, the proposals were mainly intended to bring the United Kingdom's laws of citizenship more in line with current immigration policies. They would not affect the right of entry into the United Kingdom of those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who already possess this right. "It would appear that the rules governing entry into the United Kingdom will remain substantially the same" he said.

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The Green Paper suggests that Britain's nationality law should be revised to enable immigration policies to be based largely on citizenship. Under the proposed scheme, Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies would become either British Citizens or British Overseas Citizens.

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The new British Citizenship would be held by people with specified ties (by their own or a parent's birth, registration or naturalisation)" with the United Kingdom. Only this category would have an unrestricted right of entry into the United Kingdom. British Overseas Citizenship would be held by those who have similar ties with an existing dependent territory. Both British Citizens and British Overseas Citizens would continue to carry British passports and to enjoy British consular protection. The complex distinctions that now govern rights of entry to the United Kingdom would disappear and citizenship would become the test. In other words "patriality" would be replaced by citizenship.

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