TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 58

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THE GREEN PAPER AND THE BOW PAPER

1. It is instructive to compare the proposals on the Green Paper on nationality of April 1977 (Cmnd 6795) and the Bow Paper "Defining a Nation" by Dr Plender.

2.

The Green Paper is based on the need to control immigration into the United Kingdom and within the framework of United Kingdom nationality (an international concept) creates two citizenships:

British Citizenship

British Overseas

Citizenship

Persons with the right of entry into the

United Kingdom.

Persons without such a

right. Some such persons belong to Colonies, others do not.

This division does not coincide with connection with territory. A more logical classification would be:

Persons connected with

United Kingdom territory

Persons not connected with United Kingdom territory

This comprises persons connected with the

United Kingdom and persons connected with the several dependencies.

In fact, these persons (or their ancestors) were connected with places which are no longer United Kingdom territory.

3. Dr Plender, while recognising the necessity of controlling immigration, bases his system firmly on connection with territory. There are to be three main categories, all within the framework of United Kingdom nationality. (See recommendation 4 on page 1). There is to be a new status known as "nationality of the United Kingdom", embracing:

(i) All citizens of the United Kingdom

(ii) Everyone who has specified associations with

existing dependencies

(iii) Under transitional arrangements, everyone who is at present a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, British protected person or British subject without citizenship by association with former dependencies.

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