TNAG-1125-FCO40-1400-British-Nationality-Act-1981-and-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 111

Mr Eligor.

HKG 340/kc: Mr Holmes, CPO нка

Mr Clift, HKGD

Mr Addison, Home Office Mr Cogbill, Home Office WIAD

Lord N Gordon Lennox

SAMD

SPD

SED ECD (1)

25.

NATIONALITY ACT AND PASSPORTS

1. Some revisions in the descriptions and other entries in our passports will be introduced from 1 January 1983 when the British Nationality Act 1981 comes into effect. These will be procedural changes following from the redefinition of citizenships in the legislation. They are unconnected with the machine readable pass- port or the European common format

2.

Hong Kong would like a more 'British' description in their passports than the law appears to allow. They are still fighting their corner. If they should win their point we may have to modify our arrangements. But meanwhile we must put out at least provisional guidance and instructions in order to give posts and Dependent Territories time to absorb and provide. for the changes before they come into effect.

3.

The main points are that -

a) As British citizenship under the Act will be coterminoʊs with the present category of 'Citizens of the United Kingdom with right of abode in the United Kingdom', passports issued to British citizens will no longer be endorsed 'Holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom'. The endorsement will become unnecessary because right of abode will be inherent in the citizenship.

b) Passports issued to British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTC) or to British Overseas citizens by the Passport Office or at our posts abroad will continue to be endorsed 'Holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971' or 'Holder is entitled to readmission to the United Kingdom.

c) Passports issued to British subjects and to British Pro- tected Persons will not be affected by the Act.

d) The nationality description in passports issued in Depen- dent Territories will normally be 'British Dependent Territories Citizen' followed on the next line by the name of the Territory. Governors will have discretion to endorse passports issued under their authority with the holder's immigration status in their respective territories.

4. When the instructions issue we shall work closely with Hong Kong and General Department who may need to send some additional explanation or guidance to Hong Kong.

10 August 1982

Chino toplum Houmito

CJ Howells

Nationality & Treaty Dept

Also at HKG 349/1