TNAG-2189-FCO40-3126-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 189

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the recommendation is contrary to the Scheme or

if it is

they are we contrary to a direction in respect of the maximum number of recommendations that may be given in any specified period (see para. 4.11 above).

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chuldner

ture as dete

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haces of In cove

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The type of citizenship to be granted

4.15 Ministers' general policy is that 50,000 HK BDTC's should be selected for citizenship and that their spouses and children under 18 should also be able to acquire BC status. However, this Bill is a short-term measure dealing with an exceptional situation. Ministers have therefore decided that the benefits

of the Bill should not be enjoyed by future generations of those selected. They have therefore decided that the children of the 50,000 should not be able to pass on citizenship automatically to the next generation and that the spouse who re-marries should

hildan or sparse equally not be able to pass on citizenship acquired by virtue of

^ his or her previous marriage to a selected HK BDTC.

and

4.16 The difference between citizenship "by descent" citizenship "otherwise than by descent" is described in paragraph 2.4 above. It follows from Ministers' decisions that the 50,000 HK BDTC's registered as British citizens under the Bill should be treated as if they were citizens "otherwise than by descent" - in effect as if they had acquired citizenship by birth under section 1 of the BNA. It follows that any children born outside the UK after the registration of an HK BDTC under this Bill will automatically acquire British citizenship by descent by virtue of section 2 of the BNA.

the

4.178 As regards the spouse and children under 18 existing at the time of an HK BDTC's registration under the Bill, position is less straightforward. The Bill should make provision for such spouses and children to be registered, on application,

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•Regishatush Scheme