TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 126

WITH THIS COUNTRY.

CLAUSE 1(1) ACCORDINGLY PROVIDES FOR A CHILD TO BE A BRITISH CITIZEN AT BIRTH ONLY IF ONE OF HIS PARENTS IS A DRITISH CITIZEN 2 IS SETTLED HERE. THERE ARE, OF CORUSE, AS THE WHITE PAPER

KNOWLEDGES, COME PRACTICAL PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THIS PROPOSAL BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN BE OVERCOME.

I HAVE ALREADY REFERRED TO CLAUSE .. IT PROVIDES GENERALLY FOR- CHILDREN 30RMABROAD IN THE FIRST GENERATION TO BECOME CITIZENS BY DESCENT. IF ONE OF THEIR PARENTS IS A CITIZEN BY BIRTH.· CITIZENSHIP WILL NOT BE TRANSMISSILE AS OF RIGHT BEYOND THE FIRST GENERATION EXCEPT IN CAREFULLY PRESCRIBED CIRCUMSTANCES. A CHILD WILL BE A BRITISH CITIZEN IF ONE OF THE PARENTS IS A DRITISH CITIZEN, ALTHOUGH NOT A CITIZEN BY 31RTH, AND IS IN CROWN SERVICE OR SERVICE WHICH IS DESIGNATED AS BEING CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACTIVITIES OVERSEAS OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. . AN EXAMPLE WOULD 3E THE BRITISH COUNCIL.

CITIZENSHIP CAN ALSO BE TRANSMITTED FOR MORE THAN ONE GENERATION BY REGISTRATION OVERSEAS WITHIN A YEAR OF BIRTH WHERE THE MOTHER OR FATHER IS A CITIZEN AND IS ENGAGED IN EMPLOYMENT OVERSEAS WHICH HAS A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM. THIS INCLUDES UNITED TINGDOM FIRMS AND COMPANIES WITH OVERSEAS BRANCHES AND

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF WHICH THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT IS A MEMBER. THIS IS SET OUT IN CLAUSE 3, SUB-SECTIONS (2) TO (4) AND (7).

THESE PROVISIONS RECOGNISE THAT PEOPLE CAN REMAIN CLOSELY ATTACHED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WHILE SPENDING LONG PERIODS OF THEIR WORKING LIVES ABROAD. I AM SURE THAT THE HOUSE WILL WELCOME THEM. THEY WILL REPLACE THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULAR REGISATRATION AND, UNLIKE THESE ARRANGEMENTS, WILL APPLY TO 3IRTHS

IN COMMONWEALTH AS WELL AS FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

CLAUSE (1) OF THE BILL CONTINUES THE EXISTING DISCRETION CONFERRED ON ME BY SECTION 7 OF THE 1942 ACT TO REGISTER ANY MINOR CHOLD.

CLAUSE DEALS WITH THE ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALISATION. SUB-SECTION (2) MAKES SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS, TO WHICH I HAVE ALRADY - REFERRED, FOR THE ACQUISITION OF CITZENSHIP OY THE HUSBAND OR WIFE OF AN EXISTING CITIZEN. THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE SET OUT IN DETAIL

IN SCHEDULE 1. THE MAIN POINT TO NOTE IS THAT A HUSBAND OR WIFE OF A BRITISH CITZEN CAN APPLY FOR NATURALISATION AFTER THREE YEARS!

·RES IDENCE WHEREAS FOR OTHER PERSONS THE REQUIREMENT WILL BE FIVE YEARS' RESIDENCE.

THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS ARE THAT A WIFE, BUT NOT A HUSBAND, HAS ÄN ENTITLEMENT TO ACQUIRE CITIZENSHIP IMMEDIATELY ON MARRIAGE. THIS WOULD CEASE. THERE WOULD, HOWEVER, BE A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP ON THE

THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO CITIZENSHIP IF THEY WERE STILL MARRIED TO THE MAN CONCERNED AND IF HE HAS NOT IN THE MEANTIME RENOUNCED CITIZENSHIP.

DURING WHICH WIVES SAME BASIS AS NOW.

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