TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 55

CBDT categories.

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Under new law wife (or husband) of Citizen will

first have to live in the UK (for British Citizen) or dependency

(for CBDT) before applying for naturalisation (though conditions

will be easier than for other naturalisation). Government are

resisting pressures for automatic rights to citizenship for

spouses on grounds that it is open to abuse (marriages of convenience)

and could lead to British Citizenship with no real connection with

the UK (which is contrary to basic concept of Bill). Impossible

to make dispensation for CBDT wives without undermining Government's

whole position.

11.

Hong Kong may base their claim for exemption on grounds of

alleged promises of no loss of present entitlement. We know of no

such undertaking given by this government to this effect nor anything

that could bear this interpretation.

SEPARATE CITIZENSHIP

12.

Opposition have tabled amendments to change CBDT scheme to

Gibraltar have let it

a separate citizenship for each dependency.

be known that they would prefer separate citizenship to CBDT,

Many MPs are attracted to separate citizenship for dependencies.

Government will oppose separate citizenships for all now on grounds

of impracticability (wide differences between circumstances of

dependencies; some dependencies would probably prefer CBDT; and

separate citizenships could create misunderstanding and practical

difficulties, eg Hong Kong/China and Falklands/Argentina), But it

is difficult to refute concept of separate citizenship for some

dependencies in principle, and if pressed in Parliament, Government

may wish to allow for possibility for individual dependencies who

want separate citizenships to obtain them in the future. Most

dependencies would probably not want them.

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/13.