TNAG-2372-FCO40-3447-Hong-Kong-nationality-UK-passport-scheme-British-Nationalit-1991 — Page 105

BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) ACT: LOW TAKE-UP

QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF

DOES NOT LOW TAKE-UP MEAN THAT SCHEME IS A FAILURE?

[Before 28 February only]

- It is premature to speculate about what the final out-turn

will be at the end of the month. The Hong Kong Government continues to believe that the eventual take-up is unlikely

to fall short of the places available.

Over a of a million application forms distributed to the

Hong Kong public suggests that there is considerable

interest in the scheme.

-

Experience with the deadline for naturalisation of British

dependent territories citizens last July shows that there is

every reason to expect a last minute rush of applications.

[Before and after 28 February]

The success of the scheme should not be measured only by the number of applications or by the number of places

eventually allocated in the first tranche.

The objective of the scheme was to provide Hong Kong people with an option of an insurance policy at a time when

Hong Kong was suffering a serious confidence crisis.

Announcement of the scheme did this.

The scheme has undoubtedly helped convince many local people that HMG has been fulfilling its obligations towards

Hong Kong and this has everted = stablising effect on the

community.

MTHATO/1

CC

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