TNAG-1384-FCO40-1832-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 175

YOUNG

CONFIDENTIAL

2544 1

REGISTER A PERSON MUST BE RESIDENT IN THE UK ON THE DAY THE

REGISTER IS COMPILED. RESIDENCE IN THIS CONTEXT CONNOTES A

DEGREE OF PERMANENCE. UP TO NOW, NO-ONE RESIDENT ABROAD

COULD VOTE IN UK ELECTIONS. THE REPRESENTATION OF THE

PEOPLE ACT 1985 PROVIDES FOR BRITISH CITIZENS RESIDENT

ABROAD TO VOTE, BUT NOT OTHER BRITISH NATIONALS OR

COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS. ANY COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN OVER 21

CAN STAND FOR PARLIAMENT IF HIS NOMINATION PAPERS ARE

SUPPORTED BY THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF ELECTORS. THERE ARE

NO RESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS. IN THEORY, THEREFORE, A

COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN MAY STAND FOR UK PARLIAMENT WITHOUT

EVER HAVING SET FOOT IN THIS COUNTRY. IN PRACTICE IT IS

UNLIKELY THAT SUCH A PERSON WOULD RECEIVE THE REQUISITE

AMOUNT OF SUPPORT TO BE NOMINATED.

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY.

LIMITED

HD/HKD HD/FED HD/NTD

RESEARCH DEPT.(MR WALKER ) D/HD PUSD

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING MR WILSON

COPIES TO:

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT.

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE

HOM

MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT,

OFFICE. MR EMERY, BÒ DIV, HOME OFFICE,

CROYDON.

Mr Miller, MVD

HKGO

LONDON

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CONTIDENTIAL