TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 127

ME2AHZ

ночь комь: Р. KONG

CONFIDENTAR

FACILITAT

DRAFT

New paral

-

MEMORANDUM BY THE

F

ཙ

.C...O.

THE NATIONALITY PROVISIONS OF THE HONG KONG ACT 1985 -

ORDER IN COUNCIL

A to B attached

Legislation

published in draft on 17 October

in January and March 1986 and

2.

The Order in Council was

1985. It was debated in Parliament

finally approved in [... 1986].

National Status

3.

Persons

because of a

who are currently British nationals

connection wi th Hong Kong have the national sta tus of British

Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC). All such Hong Kong BDTCs will

Q status on 1 July 1997 when Hong Kong ceases to be under dependent teintony

administration and becomes a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China.

that

lose

British

4.

Before 1 July 1997 all Hong Kong BDTCs will have the option and the right to acquire a new form of British nationality, to be

called British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) and to retain this new status for their lifetime. The new status will be acquired by registration on simultaneous application for a British passport in-

new status. I

the

5.

The new status of British National (Overseas) will be

year

introduced with effect from 1 July 1987. This because Butish passpats are valid for ten years, and it would be inappropriate to issue BDTC passports with full ten- validity, which would be valid beyond 30 June 1997. This arrangement will also give the É. Both Statuses of British Dependent Territories Citizenship by

virtue of a connection with Hong Kong and

itish National (Overseas) will run concurrently from 1 July 1987 until 1 July 1997

when the former will cease to exist,

the status of

the status of British National

issuing authonties sufficient time to cope with applications for BN (0) passports.