TNAG-2194-FCO40-3131-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 148

CONFIDENTIAL

in other ways.

These people would be invited to apply under this

section, and their applications processed as described above.

candidates of the results of their

HKID would notify

applications.

OTHER ISSUES

Spouses and children

34.

This Note has been focused on the selection of up to 50,000

heads of households. 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,

however, be discretion to withhold

citizenship where the Home Secretary was not satisfied that an applicant was of good character.

35. 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 reside in Hong Kong the

spouse would not be eligible for British citizenship under the

Bill.

36.

Children born after the registration of the head of

household, including those born after 30 June 1997, would be

British citizens automatically. (This includes children born to

couples where the spouse was not a British citizen.) Citizenship

would not, however, be transmissible under the Bill to spouses

married after 30 June 1997.

Responsibility for Registration

CONFIDENTIAL