TNAG-2202-FCO40-3157-Hong-Kong-British-Nationality-Act-1981-registration-at-disc-1990 — Page 25

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION FOR PRIORITY WRITTEN ANSWER ON FRIDAY 19 JANUARY 1990

To ask the Secretary of

Mr Tom Pendry (Stalybridge and Hyde): State for the Home Department, how many Hong Kong citizens will be eligible for British citizenship under the British Nationality Act, Section 4, subsection 5 in return for

return for rendering

rendering Crown services.

DRAFT REPLY

There

are currently some 180,000 Hong Kong British Dependent

Territories citizens in Crown service under the government of Hong Kong who are eligible to apply for registration as British

citizens under section 4(5) of the British Nationality Act 1981.

An unknown additional number are eligible on the basis of past

service.

accordance with the policy announced when the

British Nationality Act 1981 was before Parliament, the discretionary powers under this provision are at present used

sparingly.

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