TNAG-0980-FCO40-1199-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 37

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Chief Clerk

Clerk

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PS/CPS Private Secretary

NEW NATIONALITY LAW: CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES

PROBLEM

1.

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Should the FCO agree with the Home Office proposals for dealing

with transmission of citizenship to children born abroad of certain

categories for whom the FCO has an interest the British Council,

HM Overseas Civil Service, British employees of international

organisations, OSAS personnel working on aid projects overseas,

UK expatriates working for colonial governments?

the

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that the FCO should agree with these proposals as

set out in the attached draft from the Secretary of State or the

Lord Privy Seal to the Home Secretary. I should be grateful if a

letter could leave before the weekend if possible as the IIome

Secretary aims to send the bill to the printer very early next week.

All the FCO departments concerned agree except for ECD(I) who think

that better treatment should be given to British citizens employed

by the European Commission. Their view is attached.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

overseas

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3. Generally speaking the new nationality law will limit

transmission of British citizenship to the first generation born

that is, only a parent (father or mother) born in the UK

will be able to transmit citizenship to a child born overseas. But

if British citizen parents who were not born in the UK have a child

born overseas they will be entitled to register their child as a

British citizen after 3 years residence in the UK with the child

during his minority. In giving British citizenship to the child

/born

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