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(d)
13.
Nationality and Passports
Parliament and
Following debates in
people of Hong Kong an Order
under the terms of the Hong Kong Act 1985.
consultation with the
in Council was made on 5 June 1986
This provides for
persons who are British Dependent Territories citizens by virtue of
connection with Hong Kong
lose that status on 1 July 1997 but
a
to be entitled to acquire before that date a new
as
British
status, to be known
National (Overseas), together with
The Order also makes
It provides for any British Dependent
a British passport
provision to guard
on 1 July 1997
they have not
recording that status.
against statelessness.
Territories citizens who lose that status
automatically to become British verseas citizens if
acquired BN (0) status and if they would otherwis se 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
Overseas citizens if
born stateless.
British as
14.
The Order will come into effect on 1 July 1987. Passports
bearing the status of British National (Overseas) will be issued
from that date.
15.
certificates
through
Parliament Her
the
the
UK:
During the passage of the Order
Majesty's Government took into careful consideration three specific
made requests
by the Legislative Council
that of Hong Kong:
passports of BN (0)s should contain an endorsement to the effect that
visas or entry
not required for visits to were
that ex-World War II service veterans in Hong Kong should be granted British citizenship: and that ethnic minority (i.e. non-Chinese)
BDTus should also be
granted British
Her citizenship.
Government agreed to the
The passport endorsement request in ful1.
the majority of
270 or SO
are service veterans
not eligible under
the British Nationality Act 1981 for registration as British citizens. However the Government agreed to consider sympathetically
applications from the 60 or so eligible for British citizenship and
the of
270
be could
admitted agreed
the UK for
settlement together with their dependants. Her Majesty's Government
that
any
to
Majesty's
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