TNAG-1571-FCO40-2137-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 16

EMORANDUM ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF UNITED KINGDOM NATIONALS

DEFINITION

1. In the new United Kingdom Declaration on the definition of the term 'nationals', a copy of which is attached, United Kingdom nationals are defined as follows:

(a) British citizens;

(b)

Persons who are British subjects by virtue of Part IV of the British Nationality Act 1981 and who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom and are therefore exempt from United Kingdom immigration control;

(c) British Dependent Territories citizens who

acquire their citizenship from a connection with Gibraltar.

IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS IN PART (a)

British passports issued before 1 January 1983

2. British passports issued before 1 January 1983 to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies with the right of abode in the United Kingdom will continue to be used for up to the next ten years. Such persons are described at the foot of page 1 of the passport as 'British subjects: citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies with an endorsement on page 5 that 'Holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom'. This endorsement has been printed in all new passports issued since 1973.

British passports issued after 1 January 1983

3. On 1 January 1983, all citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies with the right of abode in the United Kingdom with one small exception will become British citizens. British citizens will be described as such at the foot of page 1 of the passport; no additional endorsement will be made in passports issued to them to indicate that they may exercise Community rights or that they have the right of abode in the United Kingdom since that right is inherent in their citizenship.

IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS IN PART (b)

British passports issued before or after 1 January 1983

4.

British subjects are described as such at the foot of page 1. of the passport. The fact that a British subject is a United Kindom national for EC purposes will be indicated by the endorsement at the top of page 5 that 'Holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom'. This endorsement may be printed in the passport or made by means of a rubber stamp.

IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS IN PART (c)

British passports issued before 1 January 1983

5. Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who under the 1972 Declaration were defined as United Kingdom nationals for EC purposes by virtue of their connection with Gibraltar are described at the foot of page 1 of their passports as 'British subject: citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies'; their passports will also bear

/the