TNAG-0661-FCO40-810-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 91

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ARE ALSO CONNECTED WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM) HAVE THE RIGHT OF

ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THEY THEREFORE DO NOT HAVE THE

RIGHT OF FREE MOVEMENT IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, AND POSSIBLE CHANGES DISCUSSED THE GREEN PAPER WOULD NOT OPERATE

TO CONFER THIS RIGHT ON THEM.

EQUAL TREATMENT FOR ALL DEPENDENCIES

EXCEPTIONS.

9. THE GREEN PAPER PROPOSES THAT, IN GENERAL, THE SAME PROVISIONS SHOULD BE MADE FOR ALL DEPENDENT TERRITORIES.

ONE EXCEPTION RELATES TO THE CHANNEL ISLANDS AND THE

ISLE OF MAN WHOSE PEOPOLE, IT IS SUGGESTED, SHOULD

BECOME BRITISH CITIZENS. THE OTHER EXCEPTION RELATES TO GIBRALTAR WHOSE PEOPLE ARE AT PRESENT ACCEPTED AS UNITED KINGDOM NATIONALS FOR EUROPEAN COMMUNITY PURPOSES AND WOULD, WE EXPECT, CONTINUE TO BE SO ACCEPTED IF THEY BECOME BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS. IF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG OR OF ANY OTHER

DEPENDENT TERRITORY WISHES TO PUT FORWARD VIEWS ON THE COMMON

RULES CUTLINED IN THE GREEN PAPER FOR ACQUISITION AND LOSS OF

BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP, OR TO PROPOSE THAT THE PERMANENT (AS DISTINCT FROM TRANSITIONAL) ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE OPEN TO VARIATION FOR INDIVIDUAL TERRITORIES,

WE WILL STUDY THOSE VIEWS CAREFULLY.

POSITION OF CITIZENS OF THE UK AND COLONIES IN HONG

KONG AT EXPIRY OF NEW TERRITORIES LEASE.

!

10. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHAT THE EFFECT ON

CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES (OR BRITISH

OVERSEAS CITIZENS) MIGHT BE SHOULD THE NEW TERRITORIES

LEASE EXPIRE.

ACQUISITION OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP BY BRITISH OVERSEAS

CITIZENS FROM HONG KONG,

11. AS IS CLEAR FROM THE GREEN PAPER, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT COMMITTED TO ANY PARTICULAR SET OF QUALIFICATIONS TO BE

REQUIRED OF PERSONS WISHING TO ACQUIRE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP

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