TNAG-1456-FCO40-1980-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 115

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LAND COMMISSION MANAGES THIS INCOME IN TRUST, THROUGH A HONG KONG

SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT LAND FUND AND AN INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, BOTH OF WHICH WERE SET UP IN AUGUST 1986.

THE FUND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO GROW SO THAT A VERY

SUBSTANTIVE SUM WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT IN

1997.

(D)

NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS

FOLLOWING DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT AND CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE

OF HONG KONG AN ORDER IN COUNCIL WAS MADE ON 5 JUNE 1986 UNDER

THE TERMS OF THE HONG KONG ACT 1985. THIS PROVIDES FOR PERSONS

WHO ARE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS BY VIRTUE OF A

CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG TO LOSE THAT STATUS ON 1 JULY 1997 BUT

TO BE ENTITLED TO ACQUIRE BEFORE THAT DATE A NEW STATUS, TO BE

KNOWN AS BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS), TOGETHER WITH A BRITISH

PASSPORT RECORDING THAT STATUS. THE ORDER ALSO MAKES PROVISION

TO GUARD AGAINST STATELESSNESS. IT PROVIDES FOR ANY BRITISH

DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS WHO LOSE THAT STATUS ON 1 JULY

1997 AUTOMATICALLY TO BECOME BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS IF THEY

HAVE NOT ACQUIRED BN(0) STATUS AND IF THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE

STATELESS. THE CHILDREN OF FORMER HONG KONG BDTCS BORN ON OR

AFTER THAT DATE WILL ALSO BE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS

AUTOMATICALLY AT BIRTH IF OTHERWISE STATELESS. THE GRANDCHILDREN

OF FORMER HONG KONG BDTCS WILL BE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS

BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS IF BORN STATELESS.

THE ORDER WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON 1 JULY 1987. PASSPORTS

BEARING THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) WILL BE ISSUED

FROM THAT DATE.

DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE ORDER THROUGH PARLIAMENT HER MAJESTY'S

GOVERNMENT TOOK INTO CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THREE SPECIFIC

REQUESTS MADE BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG: THAT THE

PASSPORTS OF BN (0)S SHOULD CONTAIN AN ENDORSEMENT TO THE EFFECT

THAT VISAS OR ENTRY CERTIFICATES WERE NOT REQUIRED FOR VISITS TO

THE UK: THAT EX-WORLD WAR II SERVICE VETERANS IN HONG KONG SHOULD

BE GRANTED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP: AND THAT ETHNIC MINORITY (I.E

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