TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 270

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Will the same rules that apply now to

registration with British consulates overseas

for British nationals apply also to BNOS?

The

- In current BDTC passports, note 7 on Dual

Nationality states that "British nationals who

are also nationals of another country cannot be

protected by Her Majesty's representatives

against the authorities of that country."

note further specifies "If under the law of

that country they are liable for any

obligations (such as military service), the

fact that they are British nationals does not

exempt them from it." In addition to military

service, to what other "obligations" might this

refer, and will note 7 apply to BNO passport

holders?

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong people, most of them

from the New Territories, are living and working in the UK and

Europe. They labour so as to earn enough money to support themselves and for remittances home to Hong Kong. They aim to

succeed, and they do succeed, by sheer hard work. They spurn

the welfare state and look down on the idea of free handouts,

believing only in reward for effort. Hence the UK, with its

chronic unemployment, strikes and shaky economy, need never

fear an influx of Hong Kong people, for whom prosperity and stability are a way of life. However, it is worth remembering

that many of the people who now find the UK door unceremoniously slammed in their faces are the very same people

who took pledges of loyalty on naturalization.

In the final analysis, perhaps it is as well that William Shakespeare should not be the one to immortalise the

BNO, for born as he was in Stratford, he would never have been obliged to hold such a passport.

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