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15. HENCE THE PROVISION IN CLAUSE ONE OF THE BILL.
NATIONALITY
16. I TURN NOW TO NATIONALITY, AND IN THIS CONTEXT I SHALL MENTION THE MOTION PUT DOWN BY THE RT HON MEMBER FOR DOWN SOUTH. HON MEMBERS WILL RECALL THAT I SAID IN THE HOUSE ON 5 DECEMBER THAT THE LEGISLATION THAT WE PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE, WOULD INCLUDE PROVISIONS TO MAKE THE AMENDMENTS TO NATIONALITY LEGISLATION THAT ARE NECESSARY AS A RESULT OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE UK MEMORANDUM. THESE PROVISIONS ARE CONTAINED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE SCHEDULE WHICH ENABLES A SUBSEQUENT ORDER OR ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENSHIP CANNOT BE RETAINED OR ACQUIRED ON OR AFTER 1 JULY 1997 BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG ANDTTO CREATE A NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY THAT MAY BE ACQUIEED BY PERSONS WHO ARE BDTC'S BY VIRTUE OF SUCH A CONNECTION.AS I ALSO FORECAST ON 5 DECEMBER, SPECIFIC PROVISION IS ADE SO THAT THE ORDERS MAY INCLUDE ANY MEASURES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THA NO BRITISH NATIONAL, NOR ANY CHILD BORN AFTER 1 JULY 1997 TO A BRITISH NATIONAL, IS MADE STATELESS AS A RESULT OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS.
17. IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION THAT ALL THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO NATIONALITY LEGISLATION SHOULD BE MADE IF POSSIBLE IN ONE ORDER IN COUNCIL, THOUGH THE BILL WOULD ALLOW ADJUSTMENT OR ADDITION BY FURTHER ORDERS-IN-COUNCIL IF THAT WERE IN THE EVENT NECESSARY. THE BILL PROVIDES THAT SUCH ORDERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE: IN OTHER WORDS, MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES WILL HAVE A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER AND DEBATE THE PROPOSALS IN IT. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE RT HON MEMBER FOR DOWN SOUTH THAT THIS PROCEDURE WILL GIVE INADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE MEASURES PROPOSED. INDEED IT WAS PRECISELY BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE HOUSE WOULD WANT DETAILED CONSIDERATION THAT WE MADE THE ORDERS SUBJECT TO AFFIRMATIVE PROCEDURE. IT WOULD, IT IS TRUE, NOT BE POSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDERS-IN-COUNCIL. HOWEVER
THE HOUSE IS PERFECTLY WELL ABLE TO OBLIGE THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE CHANGES IN SUCH ORDERS IF THE NECESSARY BODY OF OPINION EXISTS. I WILL EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE NOT TRIED IN THIS BILL TO INCLUDE FULL
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