TNAG-1087-FCO40-1337-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 46

British citizen will be able to apply after 3 years' residence here instead of the normal 5. He or she will be required to meet the requirement to be of good character but not the requirement to have a sufficient knowledge of English or Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. The Home Secretary also has discretion to register any

minor child as a British citizen.

Preserved entitlements to registration

Commonwealth citizens settled here before 1973 will continue

to have a right to be registered for 5 years after commencement (or 8 years in special cases). In the case of minors the right to registration continues for 5 years after they reach the age of 18. Commonwealth citizens with the right of abode

who are settled here at commencement will also continue to have

a right to registration for a limited period when they have been here for 5 years. Women who at commencement are married to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who become British citizens will have their entitlement to registration preserved for 5 years provided their marriage subsists. Where the marriage has ceased registration is at the Home Secretary's discretion.

Renunciation and resumption

Provision is made for British citizens to renounce their British citizenship, and to resume it subsequently; and for certain persons who have renounced their present citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies to be able to be registered as British citizens.

BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES' CITIZENSHIP

The provisions of the Bill dealing with the acquisition and renunciation of citizenship of the British Dependent Territories follow a similar pattern to those for the acquisition and renunication of British citizenship. British Dependent Territories' citizens who settle in the United Kingdom will be entitled to registration as British citizens after they have spent 5 years here.

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