TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 60

General

CONFIDENTIAL

F. BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP

When

105. The nature of British Overseas Citizenship has been referred to in paragraph 36 above. In essence it is that British Overseas Citizenship represents the relationship with the United Kingdom held by people connected with countries which were once part of the British Empire; or whose ancestral connections with the United Kingdom or its present

dependencies are not sufficiently close to qualify them for British

Citizenship or Citizenship of the British Dependendent Territories.

the Bill comes into force all Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who

do not qualify for British Citizenship or Citizenship of the British

Dependent Territories would become British Overseas Citizens. It would

be contrary to the general principles to be embodied in the new Act to

provide for people with these distant connections to pass on citizenship

further; but in drafting the Bill account will be taken of obligations

under the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. British Overseas

Citizens living in British territories would have the opportunity of

acquiring one of the other citizenships on satisfying the requirements laid

down. While the holder of British Overseas Citizenship would be entitled

to protection overseas in the same way as any other British national, and

would be eligible to hold a United Kingdom passport describing his citizen-

ship, his citizenship would not carry with it the right of abode in any

British territory.

106. The proposed change of title would in no way affect the eligibility

of United Kingdom passport holders from East Africa to participate in the Special Voucher Scheme which, as already mentioned in paragraph 27 the

Government intend to continue.

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