TNAG-1381-FCO40-1829-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 23

/home in

Hong Kong

to retain their

CODE 18-77

Mr PoweИ

HKD

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 040

6 FEB 1925

'

Reference

Pa

m

ми

24

HONG KONG BILL:

SUPPLEMENTARIES ON NATIONALITY

Paragraph 2, first sentence

1. It should be understood that any commitment to ratify the agreement can only at this stage be political. The agreement itself will not impose any obligations on the UK until it has been ratified. The point however is that if the Government wishes to avail itself of the opportunity to ratify the agreement it must do so before 30 June 1985, because only by acting in that

it be sure of bringing the agreement into force. There is no

need to change this sentence in order to spell this out.

Paragraphs 9 and 10

2. I think these need to be looked at again in the light of the latest policy. What is said in paragraph 10 could in any

event only apply after 1997. It could not apply to BN(O) passports issued before then.

Paragraph 13

3. Strictly speaking the words "be entitled to" should be added before the word "retain".

Paragraph 14

4.

The reference in the heading should be to paragraph 2(1)(b).

Paragraph 20

5. This is a severe compression of some complex provisions. I think it would be correct if the last sentence were to be replaced by: -

"The agreement provides in effect for all persons who have made their/right of abode there. This of course includes non-Chinese BDTC's."

Paragraph 24, last sentence

6. The word is "naturalisation".

4 February 1985

7. Bunous

F Burrows

Legal Counsellor

CONFIDENTIAL