TNAG-1080-FCO40-1330-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 42

Mr Trew, MCD

Mr Noss WIAD

Mr Williamson HKGD

Mr Bright SAMD

Mr Keith SED

HKK 340/1 RECEIVED IN REMISTRY NO. 51

9 FEB 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

مثل

REGISTRY

Action Take*

PA

13

Fló Bts

√3

See

NATIONALITY BILL:

BIRTH IN CBDT

See (53B

1. The Home Secretary has decided that there should be a provision added to Clause 1 of the Bill under which a child born in the United Kingdom to a parent who is neither a British citizen nor 'settled' would be entitled to be registered as a British citizen at any time after attaining the age of 10 years provided that he was in this country for the first 10 years of his life. The provision would allow such a person to have been absent for up to 90 days in each period of 12 months commencing with the date of his birth.

2. The Home Office have written to us saying that there will probably need to be a corresponding provision for acquisition of citizenship of the British Dependent Territories (CBDT). They also say that in most cases to which this provision would apply the applicant would have remained in the same dependency from birth but that because of the composite nature of CBDT the provision would need to cover the person who was born in one dependency and then, at an early age, moved to another where he completed the 10 years residence requirement. This might be difficult for some dependencies to stomach and I should therefore be glad of your views, including the need to consult Governors if necessary. The matter is pressing and I should be grateful to receive your comments by close of play on 9 February.

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

6 February 1981

H M PATERSON

Nationality and Treaty Department