TNAG-1560-FCO40-2124-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 145

2

Government Representatives

Mr. N. YEK, J.P.

DO (WTS)

CNTA

Mr. F.S. Kavanagh, C.P.M. DC(WTS)

RHKPF

Mr. Kwok Ka-chi

RO(KE)

SWD

Mr. FUNG Chi-lap

SHM(TWS)

HD

Mr. CHAN Tak-hing Mr. HU Man-hing Mr. IP Shing-wai Mr. Johnny WOO

CTO(K)

TD

CPWO (WTS)

UADO

Sr. Supt/KE

USD

CM(LS)

USD

In Attendance

Mr. Paul WONG

ADO(SD)

CNTA

Mr. Simon LORD

ADO (WTS/W)

CNTA

Miss Rosa CHAN

ADO (WTS/E)

CNTA

Mr. Stanley TO

EO(DB)1/WTS

CNTA

In Attendance by Invitation

Dr. S.S. LAI Mrs. Carrie LAM

Mr. LAI Tung-kwok

CP/YE

Asst. Secy for

Security Sr. Imm.

Officer

Secretary

:

Mr. W. YAM

M&HD

Security

Branch

ID

SEO (DB)/WTS

CNTA

Discussion Item

(a)

13.

White Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 (WTSDB Paper 221/85)

In her brief introduction of the White Paper, Mrs. Carrie LAM highlighted the main provision in the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. She added that as Hong Kong people who were BDTC by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong would lose that citizenship on 1 July 1997,

However, it followed that BN (0) status had to be granted before this date. whether a BDTC would exercise his right to register as a BN (0) status was entirely optional. With regard to the reasons for implementing the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 w.e.f. July 1987, Mrs. Carrie LAM explained that it was necessary in order to maintain the practice of issuing passports with a 10-year validity period. Furthermore this arrangement had the advantage of giving maximum time for the issuing authority to cope with applications for BN (0) passports and for third countries to become familiar with this new nationality status. Mrs. Carrie LAM further said that the Draft Order had also made provisions for reducing statelessness but they were more relevant to the non-Chinese BDTCs. Under the Order, those who could not acquire the new BN (0) status on or before 1 July 1997 and became stateless would automatically be granted w.e.f. the same date a British Overseas Citizen (BCC) status which could be passed on automatically to their second generations and to third generations by registration if they were born stateless.