TNAG-2194-FCO40-3131-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 11

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The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary's announcement December included the proposal of a special secondment scheme within the total,

total, whereby selected personnel of

personnel of companies and institutions in Hong Kong would be enabled to obtain British citizenship after five years, but on the strength of a period of residence in the United Kingdom less than the normal requirements.

The main selection scheme, however, provides for points to be awarded for British links which includes service with a British firm and those benefiting under the main selection scheme will get passports more quickly than under a secondment scheme of the type envisaged, and without the applicant having to leave Hong Kong.

The Bill published today therefore does not contain any provision for a secondment scheme, but the Government is continuing to examine the possibilities.

The Bill will be brought forward for its second reading in the House of Commons on Thursday 19 April.

NOTES TO EDITORS

A copy of the Bill is attached together with an Explanatory Note by the Home Office.

1.

The Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon Douglas Hurd CBE MP, announced the Government's intention to introduce legislation to provide a Scheme to offer 50,000 heads of households British citizenship in a statement to the House of Commons on 20 December

2.

1989.

Clauses of the Bill

Clause 1 (with Schedules 1 and 2) gives the Home Secretary power to register as British citizens, by 30 June 1997, up to 50,000 Hong Kong residents recommended by the Governor of Hong Kong under a selection scheme to be approved by Parliament. The Clause also provides for the registration of spouses and children under 18.

Clause 2 provides that persons who are registered after being recommended under the selection scheme will be British citizens "otherwise than by descent", as defined in the British Nationality Act 1981. This means that they can transmit British citizenship to their children. Their spouses

and minor children will be citizens "by descent" (which means they cannot transmit citizenship) unless the children are born in the UK. The Clause also provides for persons who are British Dependent Territories citizens to lose that status when they are registered under the Bill.