TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 135

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but this would normally be because both are citizens of the U.K. or of a dependency. Thus, with the passage of time nationality and citizenship of the United Kingdom would increasingly coincide.

VII

CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

In order to qualify as a citizen of the United Kingdom, a person would need to be associated with the Kingdom or the Channel Islands or Isle of Man by birth, descent, registration, naturalization or adoption or would have to benefit under the appropriate transitional arrangements.

Citizenship by birth would be enjoyed by everyone born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or on any ship or aircraft registered in the United Kingdom, or on the diplomatic premises abroad of the Government of the United Kingdom, other than the children of foreign diplomats.

Citizenship of the United Kingdom by descent would be enjoyed by anyone born abroad if either of his or her parents was then a citizen of the United Kingdom by birth, or a citizen by descent in Crown service under the Government of the United Kingdon. This would abolish the present discrimination between legitimate and illegitimate children, and between those claiming citizenship from their fathers and those claiming it from their mothers. Unlike the present law, it would limit the transmission of citizenship to the first generation born overseas, subject to the stated exception.

A person who is married to a citizen of the United Kingdom should be entitled to register as a citizen if that person is ordinarily and lawfully resident in the Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Registrants who do not already owe allegiance to the sovereign should be required to take an oath or make an affirmation of loyalty and all would be required to pay a nominal fee to cover administrative costs. This rule would put an end to the discrimination currently existing between husbands and wives of citizens. It would restrict the right of registration to actual spouses of citizens (whereas the present law enables any woman to register if she has ever been married to a citizen). It would also make the right to registration contingent upon residence in the United Kingdom, thus permitting Parliament to maintain, if it wished, the existing restrictions upon the freedom of a citizen's spouse to settle in the Kingdom without impairing the principle that every citizen of the U.K. should be free of immigration control.

The opportunity to be naturalized as a citizen of the United Kingdo should be extended to three groups:-

(1)

(11)

+

Any person who is, and always has been, stateless and is able to satisfy the Home Secretary that he or she is ordinarily and lawfully resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, is of good character, has a working knowledge of the English language and is not entitled to take the nationality or citizenship of another country;

Any national of the United Kingdom who is able to satisfy the Home Secretary of the matters required in the case of

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