TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 201

4.

CONFIDENTIAL

The creation of two separate citizenships to replace

that of the United Kingdom and Colonies is fundamental to

the proposals for a new Act. Without the splitting of the

existing citizenship it would hardly be worth legislating

at all. The main feature of the British Overseas Citizen-

ship were set out in paragraphs 67 to 70 (transitional

arrangements) and 71 to 74 (permanent arrangements) of the

Green Paper.

RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER

Representations on Behalf of Groups of Individuals

5. Most of the comments on the proposed British Overseas

Citizenship have been concerned with who is to acquire it

under the transitional provisions. A number of correspond-

ents, including those representing immigrant communities,

have objected to the creation of two separate citizenships,

and some have gone so far as to say that there should

continue to be one citizenship common to all people connected

with the United Kingdom and existing and former colonies, And

But that all who hold it should be entitled to entry to the

United Kingdom. This would, broadly speaking, be putting

the immigration clock back to early 1962, and is unacceptable.

Other correspondents, while agreeing that there should be

two citizenships, have said that those citizens of the United

Kingdom and Colonies who are connected with former colonies

(or alternatively those so connected who hold no citizenship

other than that of the United Kingdom and Colonies) should

acquire British Citizenship.

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