Loss of British Dependent Territories citizenship
20.
Article 3 provides for those people previously defined as BDTCs
by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong to lose that citizenship on
1 July 1997. But it excludes those persons who can establish an
independent route to BDT citizenship by a connection with another
Dependent Territory. Such people will not meet the requirement of
Article 3(b), and will therefore automatically be excepted from loss
of their BDT citizenship.
Right to acquire new status of British National (Overseas)
21.
Article 4(1) specifies the date on which BN (0) will come into
being. In order to fit in with the normal validity period of
passports, it is intended that it should be introduced 10 years
before 1 July 1997.
22.
Article 4(2) enables Hong Kong BDTCs who lose that citizenship
on 1 July 1997 to acquire BN(0) status by registration as a matter
of entitlement. The reference to passports complies with the
wording of the United Kingdom Memorandum.
23.
Article 4(3) accords with the intention of the United Kingdom
Memorandum. In order to be eligible to acquire BN (0) status a
person must be a British Dependent Territories citizen on 30 June
1997. A person who acquires BN(0) status and subsequently renounces
or is deprived of BDTC status before 30 June will not meet this
requirement, and cannot therefore retain BN (0) status beyond that
date.
Removal of Hong Kong from list of Dependent Territories
24.
Article 5 deletes Hong Kong from the list of Dependent
Territories on 1 July 1997.
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