TNAG-1384-FCO40-1832-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 149

CONFIDENTIAL

2550 - 1

MONTHS OF THAT YEAR). BDT CITIZENSHIP WILL NOT BE ACQUIRED ON OR

AFTER 1 JULY 1997 BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG.

ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR THE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE

NEW PASSPORTS BY UNITED KINGDOM CONSULAR OFFICERS, AND FOR THE

HOLDERS OF SUCH PASSPORTS TO RECEIVE BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION

WHEN IN THIRD COUNTRIES.

5.

HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO HONOUR IN FULL THE

COMMITMENTS WHICH FOLLOW FROM THE BRITISH MEMORANDUM. THE NEW

NATIONALITY STATUS WILL NOT BE TRANSMISSIBLE TO ANY SUBSEQUENT

GENERATIONS AND ONLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY BDTCS BY VIRTU

OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG ON 30 JUNE 1997 MAY ACQUIRE IT.

IN ADDITION THE STATUS IN QUESTION WILL BE HELD ONLY BY THOS

PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE ACQUIRED A PASSPORT WHSHOWS THEM ASHOLDING THAT

STATUS BEFORE 1 JULY 1997 (OR 31 DECEMBER 1997 IF

BORN IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THAT YEAR).

6.

THE HONG KONG ACT SET OUT THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE

ORDER IN COUNCIL WILL FIT. IT PROVIDES THAT BDT CITIZENSHIP

CANNOT BE RETAINED OR ACQUIRED ON OR AFTER 1 JULY 1997 BY VIRTUE

OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG, AND THAT BDTCS BY VIRTUE OF ANY

SUCH CONNECTION MAY BEFORE THAT DATE (OR BEFORE 31 DECEMBER 1997

IF BORN IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THAT YEAR) ACQUIRE A NEW FORM

OF BRITISH NATIONALITY. THE HOLDERS OF THE NEW NATIONALITY WILL

BE KNOWN AS BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS) (BN(0)). THE ACT ALSO

PROVIDES FOR THE ORDER TO:

- SPECIFY CUT-OFF DATES FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS FOR BN (0)

STATUS:

- PROVIDE THAT THE NEW STATUS MAY BE HELD ON OR AFTER 1 JULY 1997

ONLY BY PEOPLE WHO ARE BDTCS ON 30 JUNE 1997:

- MAKE PROVISION FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF STATELESSNESS: AND

MAKE SUCH OTHER CONSEQUENT PROVISIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR

THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDER, INCLUDING PROVISIONS AMENDING THE

BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981 AND ANY OTHER ENACTMENT.

THE ANNEXED DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL HAS BEEN PREPARED TO

ACCORD WITH THIS PRE-EXISTING STRUCTURE. OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF

THE ORDER ARE THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS THAT WILL BE MADE FOR TH

ISSUE, RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT OF BN(0) PASSPORTS. THESE MATTERS

3

CONFIDENTIAL