TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 6

(b)

(c)

흐흐

(d)

(e)

(f)

an applicant must be 18 years of age or above, rather than any age;

a three year residential qualification has been imposed;

in addition to (c) an applicant must not be under any immigration restrictions at the time of application. (This would have implications in respect of legal immigrants from China and illegal immigrants who have reached base who are placed under year to year immigration restrictions for their first seven years of residence in Hong Kong);

a language requirement is introduced (though this would probably not represent

a serious problem since English or Chinese would be acceptable); and

a discretion has been substituted for an entitlement.

It is to be noted that the bill introduced a concession by allowing husbands as well as wives to seek naturalisation.

16

It is for consideration by Council whether an amendment should be proposed to overcome the erosions of the position of wives to enable a spouse of a CBDT to have an automatic entitlement to register as a CBDT. A proposed amendment to clause 16 of the bill is at Annex G.

CONFIDENTIAL #