TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 40

iii)

7.%

iv)

v)

vi)

Citizens of the Republic of Ireland born before 1949 who have claimed the status of British Subject;

Persons born before 1949 who are British Subjects by virtue of connection with British India who have failed to acquire citizenship of any Commonwealth country;

Wives of iii) who have registered as British Subjects;

Citizens of any other independent Commonwealth country.

Many municipal rights and duties such as the Parliamentary franchise are attached to the status of British Subject. United Kingdom passports are issued to persons in the first five categories, although those in category ii) must satisfy certain criteria. Passports are occasionally issued to persons in the last class on a temporary basis when they cannot obtain passports from their own authorities.

Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies

8. The status of Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies was created by the British Nationality Act 1948. It was intended to be the principal, and eventually the sole, class of United Kingdom nationality. It comprises all persons who are nationals of the United Kingdom by virtue of connection with the United Kingdom or a colony and also certain persons who are nationals of the United Kingdom by connection with territories which have become independent but who failed to acquire the nationality of the new State:

9. Though the term CUKC has a necessary place in British nationality law it has not passed into common usage. It is too long to be euphonious and colonies are no longer in fashion. The man in the street prefers to describe himself, inexactly, as a British Subject, a term with traditional and monarchical associations. In the popular mind "citizen" still has association with republics.

New Terminology

10.

The Green Paper of 1977 proposes two terms: "British Citizen"; "British Overseas Citizen". The term British Citizen is better than Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies although it has a slightly republican sound and is unlikely to displace the term British Subject in common speech. British Overseas Citizen has the same disadvantage and is disliked by the colonies as connoting

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