TNAG-1405-FCO40-1880-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 83

citizen otherwise than by descent.

A child born abroad to a British citizen who is in Crown Service,

in the service of a European Community institution, or certain other types of service designated by Order in Council will be a British citizen whether or not the parent was born in the

United Kingdom, and the child will be able to transmit citizen-

ship to his or her own children on the same terms as a British

citizen born in the United Kingdom.

Acquisition by naturalisation or registration

British Dependent Territories citizens, British Overseas citi- zens, British subjects under the Act and British protected persons who have or become settled in the United Kingdom will be entitled to be registered as British citizens after five years' residence here. British Dependent Territories citizens

from Gibraltar who are UK nationals for European Communities pur- poses will have an entitlement to be registered as British citi- zens without the need to be resident in the United Kingdom. Certificates of naturalisation may be granted, at the Home Sec- retary's discretion, to other Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals. The qualifications for naturalisation are very similar to those at present. The husband or wife of a British citizen will be able to apply after three years' residence here instead of the normal five. The Home Secretary also has discretion to register any minor child as a British citizen.

Preserved entitlements to registration

Commonwealth citizens settled here before 1973 will continue to have a right to be registered for five years after commencement (or eight years in special cases). In the case of minors the right of registration continues for five years after they reach the age of eighteen. Commonwealth citizens with the right of abode who are settled here at commencement will also continue to have a right to registration for a limited period when they have been here for five years. Women who at commencement are married to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who become British citizens will have their entitlement to registration preserved

Where the for five years provided their marriage subsists.

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