TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 99

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II) THE SCOPE OF THE RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS IN CLAUSE 3, ACQUISITION BY REGISTRATION BY MINORS, HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLY

WIDENED AND THE QUALIFYING PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN SHORTENED FROM FIVE TO TWO YEARS.

III) A NEW CLAUSE WAS INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE FOR CITIZENS OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES (CBDTS), BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS (BOCS), BRITISH SUBJECTS UNDER THE ACT AND BRITISH PROTECTED PERSONS (BPPS) TO ACQUIRE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP BY REGISTRATION AS AN ENTITLEMENT AFTER FIVE YEARS' RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED

KINGDOM. PERSONS IN CROWN OR ASSOCIATED SERVICE MAY IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S DISCRETION BE REGISTERED AS BRITISH CITIZENS UNDER THIS CLAUSE WITHOUT FIRST

SATISFYING THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT.

IV)

PERSONS REGISTERED OR NATURALISED AS CITIZENS WILL IN FUTURE, AS UNDER THE PRESENT LAW BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT CITIZENSHIP TO CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM.

V) PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN A

FOREIGN COUNTRY AT COMMENCEMENT OF THE ACT AND HAD AN EXPECTATION THAT CHILDREN BORN TO THEM THERE COULD ACQUIRE CITIZENSHIP BY

CONSULAR BIRTH REGISTRATION TO HAVE A SIMILAR ENTITLEMENT OPEN

TO THEM FOR FIVE YEARS AFTER COMMENCEMENT.

VI) A NEW CLAUSE DECLARES THAT ANY DISCRETION VESTED IN THE

SECRETARY OF STATE, A GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHALL BE

EXERCISED WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE COLOUR OR RELIGION.

4.

THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF MINOR AMENDMENTS WHICH, AS WITH

THOSE DETAILED ABOVE, HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT

TO MAKE THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL MORE GENEROUS. AN EXPLANATION

OF CLAUSES OF THE BILL WILL BE SENT TO POSTS WHEN THE FINAL SHAPE

OF THE BILL BECOMES CLEAR.

FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION

5. AS INTIMATED IN PARAGRAPH 1, THE BILL IS IN FOR A DIFFICULT

PASSAGE THROUGH THE HOUSE OF LORDS. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE AVOID

SPECULATING ON THE FINAL FORM THE BILL WILL TAKE OR ON THE TIMING

OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

CARRINGTON,

BY TELEGRAPH ::

OTTAWA

WELLINGTON

AND SAVING TO CERTAIN OTHER POSTS

FCO/WHITEHALL

INFORMATION DEFT.

HONG KONG

GIBRALTAR

FORT STANLEY

CALL ROUTINE]

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