TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 32

TRANSMISSION OF BRITISH NATIONALITY TO CHILDREN BORN

ABROAD

Historical Introduction

1. The status of British Subject by birth was acquired by birth within H X Dominions (which until 1948 for this purpose included the British Isles, the Dominions overseas, and the Colonies).

2. In modern times, until 1914 children born in foreign countries acquired the status of British Subject by descent, if their father or paternal grand-father were a British Subject by biri.

3. The British Nationality Act 1914 cut down the transmission of British ationality to one generation. Thereafter, children bara foreign countries were British Subjects by des. if their father were a British Subject by bir .t es

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a general rule there was no transmission of Srivnationality to subsequent generations. As a result of protests by British residents overseas (see attached extract from Mervyn Jones on Nationality) the law was amended in 1922 to give British Subjects by scent the right to transmit British nationality to their children by registration at a British Consulate. Transmission in this manner was possible for a limited number of generations.

4. After 1943 the state of Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CU) was orcated to be the principal type of United Kingdon nationality (the other countries of the Commonwealth thereafter had separate and distinct citizenships). Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies was acquired by birth in the United Kingdom and Colonies and by descent if a child born abroad had

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