TNAG-2188-FCO40-3125-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 32

CODE 18-77

Reference....

(3)

Mr P Williams

SED

VISIT OF MR MAUDE TO GIBRALTAR

CD 34014

RECEIVED IN REGISTE

10 APR 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

1. Following our telephone conversation, I suggest something on the following lines for inclusion in thanbrief about Hong Kong passport holders in Gibraltar:

Under the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 British Dependent Territories citizenship (BDTC) is acquired by persons who are connected by birth or descent with an existing Dependent Territory. It is a collective citizenship embracing all those qualified, irrespective of the particular Dependent Territory with which they are connected. Since separate citizenships for each Dependent Territory do not exist, a person who already possesses British Dependent Territories citizenship by virtue of his connection with Hong Kong cannot change that status should he subsequently become resident in another Dependent Territory.

However, under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 those persons who acquired British Dependent Territories citizenship solely because of their connection with Hong Kong will lose that status on 1 July 1997. A person connected with Hong Kong who was normally resident in Gibraltar on 1 July 1997 and who lost his BDTC status on that date, would thus become eligible to apply for naturalisation as a British Dependent Territories citizen in Gibraltar. A person naturalised as a BDTC in Gibraltar would be recognised as a UK national for European Community purposes and would be entitled to registration as a British Citizen under Section 5 of the British Nationality

Act

1981.

attornigli

A HARRINGTON

NTD, CL501, 270 4069

23 January 1990

cc Mr Hague, HKD