TNAG-2119-FCO40-3025-Future-of-Hong-Kong-general-1990 — Page 292

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Notices of Amendments: 6th June 1990

British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill continued

marking schemes previously recommended by the Steering Group and tailored to the needs of each indiviual service. Additional information about performance, commendations, etc. provided by the services themselves would also be incorporated. A list of applicants ranked in order of points scored would then be produced by HKID for examination by the Steering Group who would recommend any necessary adjustments in the special circumstances points for each service. After any necessary further adjustments a list of those candidates who appeared to be qualified and those who seemed likely to be rejected would be submitted to the Steering Group for scrutiny. Thereafter, procedures would be as outlined in sub-paragraph. (1)(r) to (u) 24 above. The normal good character requirements would apply. (4) Sensitive Service Section

(a) This section would allow up to 6,300 people who had, in the course of serving Hong Kong or United Kingdom interests in either a civilian or military role, been exposed to special considerations and special factors during the course of their duties. Existing arrangements to safeguard the interests of some of these people, which have been in place for some years. would be subsumed by this section of the scheme.

Procedure

(b) Many of the inidividuals concerned would have already been identified by virtue of their rank. position and area of work and would be invited to submit applications to the Hong Kong Government. Once the information had been verified. HKID would scrutinise the applications and, if all was in order, the names would then be submitted to the Governor who, if satisfied, would recommend them to the Home Secretary for registration. The usual good character requirements would apply.

(c) Certain people might qualify for inclusion in this scheme on the basis of information coming to the notice of the Governor in other ways. These people would be invited to apply under this section, and their applications processed as described above. HKID would notify candidates of the results of their applications.

(5) OTHER ISSUES

Spouses and children

(a) Spouses and children under 18 (at the time of initial application) of successful applicants would be eligible to seek registration as British Citizens and. provided they applied in time for their applications to be processed by HKG before 30 June 1997, would normally receive it as a matter of course. There would, however. be discretion to withhold citizenship where the Home Secretary was not satisfied that an applicant was of good character. (b) Unlike heads of households. spouses and children would be eligible regardless of whether they were settled in Hong Kong or of their nationality. However, where a head of household contracted a marriage after ceasing to be settled in Hong Kong the spouse would not be eligible for British citizenship under the Bill: nor would a spouse married after 30th June 1997. (c) Children born after the registration of the head of househoid, including those born after 30th June 1997. would be British citizens automatically. This includes children born to couples where the spouse was not a British citizen.) (6) Responsibility for Registration

The registration of successful applicants recommended to the Home Secretary for citizenship, and any subsequent issue of British passports, would be supervised by a small team of UK officials based in Hong Kong and acting on the Home Secretary's behalf. Any necessary support staff would be provided by the Hong Kong Government.

(7) Funding