TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 93

X. X

CONFIDENTIAL

A. INTRODUCTION

Draft 28.3.80.

1. This White Paper on the law of nationality appears just over 3 years after the publication by the previous Government in April 1977 of a consultative document (a Green Paper) entitled 'British Nationality Law:

Discussion of Possible Changes' (Cind 6795). In that document the Government

invited comment on a number of ideas for changing the law, which in the main

is to be found in the British Nationality Act of 1948.

2. The present Government have studied the comments received both before and since they took office. In all, more than 4007 contributions have been

received, both from individuals and from representative bodies. Many of the

representative bodies have been those concerned with immigrants already in

this country. There have been relatively few comments from people cennceted

the indigenous population with the Whited Kingdom for generations, save in the matter of passing on citizenship to children born overseas. A summary of the principal comments made in the correspondence will be found at Appendix A.

3.7 The present Government agree with many of the ideas that were put forward

in the Green Paper, and they have taken account of the views put forward by

correspondents and others. As is generally recognised, the subject is a

complex one; work on the preparation of a Bill is in progress, but the completion of it will take some time] and it is likely to throw up further points for consideration. The Government have decided however to publishin this White Paper) an outline of their ideas on hat the shape of the nuw nationality law ought to be in the future]

4.

now

The present Act has been in force for over 31 years, during which there

have been great changes in the structure of the Commonwealth. Ideas of

citizenship which were suitable for the Commonwealth in 1948 are no longer so, and our citizenship laws are complex and out of date. Citizenship arrangements have now to be devised which will be suitable for

the role which the United Kingdom will have to play in the future, that is,

of a Western European country, a member of the European Economic. Community, which has encouraged its overseng tcrritories, as part of a continuing procese,

the changed circumstances and should to attain independence. It is sensible to plan citizouchip arrangemonisin

such a way that they may endure for a very long time ahead.

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