TNAG-0902-FCO40-1112-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 18

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX A

DSR 11C

RESPONSES FROM OVERSEAS TO THE PROPOSAL THAT TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST GENERATION

1. The majority of representations on this subject received

́by the Home Office and Posts overseas have been about the

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children of UK expatriate businessmen. The need to find a way

to provide for them is generally acceptable within the FCO.

2.

The representations on this subject on behalf of other

British citizens resident overseas has been small.

There has

been a reasonable response from British residents' associations

in France and Switzerland. These not surprisingly wish to see

British citizenship transmissible beyond the first generation

though none argue that those concerned would suffer practical

difficulties if this were not done. Most simply consider it

"unfair" that those who wish to should not be able to transmit

citizenship to their children born overseas as of right; they

ignore the fact that this has not beer possible beyond the

first generation in Commonwealth countries for the last 30

years and that even in foreign countries it has been necessary

to deny the right of abode to those citizens of the third and

subsequent generation born overseas. The most concise and

thoughtful contribution on this subject came from the British

Residents Association of Switzerland in the form of the

following extract:

"On the question of how many generations born abroad, the BRA emphatically endorses the statement that circumstances would justify passing this at least to a second generation. These cases may not be as exceptional as might appear. Who is to pass judgment on these cases?. However skilfully drafted, can all the cases be covered

with clarity, while preserving equity, or vice versa? The BRA recommends without hesitation that a third generation

be permitted, to cover the many problems which would arise

if the horizon were to be too limited."

13.

CONFIDENCIAL

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