TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 22

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MIPT: NATIONALITY LAW

1.

Ministers favour the use of the terms proposed in the Green Paper for those categories (a) and (c) in paragraph 3 of MIPT. Those with the right of abode in the UK would accordingly become British Citizens, and those without connections with any UK territory would become British Overseas Citizens.

2. The title to be used for those whose UK nationality derives from their connection with a dependent territory is more difficult. We recognise that there would be local advantages, particularly in Hong Kong, if the present title of Citizen of the UK and Colonies could be retained for people in this category.

But as the purpose

of the Bill is to split the present citizenship, retention of the old title would be inaccurate and misleading. Possible alternatives for consideration are:-

a) British Citizen of Dependent Overseas Territories.

This would be accurate but cumbersome.

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