TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 193

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG NATIONALITY WHITE PAPER

ARGUMENTS FOR AMENDMENTS

4.

ACQUISITION OF BN (0) STATUS: BN(0) REGISTRATION

Argument

It is sufficient to

The UK Memorandum

BN (0)s should not have to register.

provide for them to acquire BN (0) passports.

makes no mention of registration, only of passport acquisition.

1.

Government Proposals

2.

Article 4(2) Sould require a person to be registered as

a British National (Overseas).

3.

The method of acquisition in the Order is described as

"registration" in order to be consistent with the way in which British nationality has for many years been acquired as an

entitlement.

4.

But registration and the issuing of a BN (0) passport will

be parts of the same process. There will be the minimum of necessary formalities. Applicants will apply simultaneously for BN(0) status and the passport that goes with it. In practice registration itself will normally involve no more than the entry of each persons details on a central record, which will constitute the register. Furthermore, there will be no charge for the registration, only for the issue of the passport.

Background

Hong Kong were initially reluctant to have a registration

provision. They argued:

5.

a)

that the term "registration" is an emotive one, and likely to conjure up in the minds of the Hong Kong public a lengthy administrative process and