TNAG-1218-FCO40-1523-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1983 — Page 245

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DRAFT REPLY

DSR 11C

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Hong Kong, Gibraltar and Montserrat have changed their

immigration ordinances since the British Nationality

Act 1981 received the Royal Assent. Copies will be placed

in the library when they become available. As not all

Dependent Territories have as yet been able to introduce

immigration ordinances reflecting the nationality act, it

is not possible at present to state categorically that all

British Dependent Territories Citizens will have the uncon-

ditional right of entry in the territory from which they

derive that status. It is expected however that at least

all British Dependent Territories Citizens who hold no

other nationality status should have that right in

the territory from which they derive that citizenship. In

those British Dependent Territories which have not intro-

duced new ordinances persons who held belonger status prior

to 1 January 1983 continue to hold that status. It follows

that it is not possible at present to produce an estimate

of the number of British Dependent Territories Citizens

who have no right of entry to any territory for which the

United Kingdom is internationally responsible. British

Dependent Territories Citiznes may enter the United

Kingdom and other existing Dependent Territories provided

they qualify under the current immigration rules in force

in the United Kingdom and other Dependent Territories.