TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 56

Sir,

J 14. TAB(OVO) TOL

UMELCO

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON HUI YIN FAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 4.12.85

The White Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986

I should like to make three points about the White Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 :

(1) From a historical point of view, when the British Nationality Act was passed by Parliament in 1981,

holders of Hong Kong British Passports under the 2984 1948 Nationality Act became British Dependent Territories Citizens. From the British Government's point of view, this change was intended to prevent some 2,000,000 Hong Kong British subjects from entering Britain for temporary or permanent residence. There was not much public reaction then to the unfair treatment meted out to holders of Hong Kong British passports. Subsequently, when the Sino-British Joint Declaration took effect, the British Government formally proposed this Draft Order, introducing a British National (Overseas) passport to replace the British Dependent Territories Citizen passport by 1st July 1997, the latter ceasing to be effective on that day. This action, from the British Government's point of view, is to implement the provisions laid down in the Memorandum attached to the Joint Declaration. I believe that what the majority of holders of BDTC passports are concerned about most is the convenience, recognition, and acceptability by third countries of the new passport when it is used during the transitional period (from now to 1st July 1997) and after 1st July 1997. I support Mr. Swaine's request that it should be clearly stated in the new passport that the holder is entitled to enter the United Kingdom without having to apply

UMELCO

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