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their decision on the basis of judgment of law and of Parliamentary handling that I must ask you to respect.
5.
This section of Bill will enter into force only on exchange of
instruments of ratification. Safeguard in case something was to go wrong and ratification was not to take place.
NATIONALITY
6. Aim of Bill to describe purpose of Order in Council while not specifying detailed content of Order, which cannot realistically be worked out in time for it to be brought into force before date of ratification. Need to ensure Bill does not restrict our flexibility
in making order.
7.
Order in Council will contain full details of amendments to nationality legislation Order will be drafted initially by Home Office, in close consultation with FCO. Hong Kong Government and Exco will be fully consulted.
Timing of Order in Council
8. Not yet decided.
Benefits of new form of Nationality [Defensive]
9. Will be broadly similar to benefits associated with BDTC status, except for transmissibility.
Acquisition of new form of Nationality [Defensive]
10.
Detail not
Procedure for acquisition not yet determined. required in Bill. Words "applications in respect of the new status" (paragraph 2(2) of schedule) drafted to be wide enough to cover applications for passports, which would result in the acquisition of
the new status.
Statelessness [Defensive]
14. Bill permits provision to be made for avoidance of
Aware of widespread concern statelessness.
You will on this point.
have read remarks by Mr Luce and myself in House of Commons on 5 December. [These do not promise British nationality to every person in Hong Kong who may become stateless after 1997 irrespective of
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