NATIONAL STATUS
3.
THE ORDER PROVIDES THAT PERSONS WHO ARE BDTCS BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG WILL LOSE THAT STATUS FROM 1 JULY 1997 WHEN HONG KONG CEASES TO BE A BRITISH DEPENDENT DERRITORY AND BECOMES A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. BUT BEFORE 1 JULY 1997 ALL HONG KONG BDTCS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE A NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY, TO BE CALLED BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) (BN(0)) AND TO RETAIN THIS NEW STATUS FOR THEIR LIFETIMES. (PERSONS BORN BETWEEN 1 JANUARY 1997 AND 30 JUNE 1997 WILL HAVE UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 1997 TO ACQUIRE THE NEW STATUS). BN(0) STATUS WILL BE ACQUIRED ONLY IF A PERSON
HOLDS OR IS INCLUDED IN A PASSPORT SHOWING THAT STATUS.
4.
THE NEW STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) WILL BE INTRODUCED WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 1987. THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL GIVE THE ISSUING AUTHORITIES SUFFICIENT TIME TO COPE WITH APPLICATIONS FOR PASSPORTS, WHICH WILL BE ISSUED FROM THAT DATE.
5.
PERSONS WHO ACQUIRE BN (0) STATUS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENSHIP CONCURRENTLY UNTIL
1 JULY 1997 WHEN THE LATTER WILL BE LOST. HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO HOLD A PASSPORT IN EACH NATIONAL STATUS SIMULT- ANEOUSLY. A BDTC WHO APPLIES FOR BN (0) STATUS WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAND IN HIS BDTC PASSPORT (IF ANY) FOR CANCELLATION. HONG KONG BDTCS WHO DO NOT CHOOSE TO ACQUIRE THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) AND WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BECOME STATELESS ON 1 JULY 1997 WILL BECOME BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS ON THAT DATE.
RIGHTS
6.
A BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) WILL BE ENTITLED TO HOLD A BRITISH PASSPORT. HE WILL ALSO HAVE AN ENTITLEMENT TO FULL BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION AND SERVICES WHEN TRAVELLING OR
RESIDING ABROAD (ALTHOUGH NOT TO CONSULAR PROTECTION IN THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IF HE IS REGARDED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AS A CHINESE NATIONAL OR IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY OF WHICH HE IS REGARDED AS A NATIONAL). HE WILL ALSO BE EXEMPT UNDER THE UK IMMIGRATION RULES FROM ANY REQUIREMENT TO HOLD AN ENTRY CERTIFICATE OR VISA TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM, AS ARE BDTCS NOW. (THE PASSPORT WILL CARRY AN ENDORSEMENT CONFIRMING THIS.) IN ADDITION, A BN(0) WILL HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN
HONG KONG (SEE PARAGRAPH 10 BELOW).
PASSPORTS
7.
THE ISSUE OF PASSPORTS ENDORSED WITH THE NEW STATUS WILL
COMMENCE FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF THE STATUS ON 1 JULY 1987.
2 CONFIDENTIAL
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