TNAG-2629-FCO40-3820-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1992 — Page 7

THE PROBLEM

2. The Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 provides for

the status of Hong Kong British Dependent Territory Citizen to

end on 1 July 1997 and for HKBDTCs to acquire British National

(Overseas) status before that date. The Hong Kong immigration

authorities say that so far only 0.3 million of the estimated

3.3 million BDTCs who are or will be eligible for BN(0) status

have obtained BN (O) passports. There are some 1.7 million BDTC

passports in circulation of which more. than half are due to

expire in 1996/97. They consider there to be a significant risk

that many of those eligible will apply very close to 1997 and

that the Immigration Department will not have the capacity to process their applications before the 30 June deadline. They

therefore wish to instigate a phased programme of BN (0)

registrations to encourage an orderly flow and avoid an

overwhelming number of last minute applications. They recognise

that there would be severe criticism and a real political problem

if significant numbers remained unprocessed after the deadline had passed.

3. They say that one reason for the slow rate of uptake of

BN(0) status may be that people are unaware that HKBDTC passports

will cease to be valid in 1997. Another may be the public's

perception of the BN(0) passport. When BN (0) passports were

first introduced, some countries which accepted BDTC passports

were unfamiliar with the new documents. Some Hong Kong

travellers experienced difficulties and their problems received a lot of press attention. Many people continue to see BN (0)

passports as inferior to BDTC ones.

4. The timing problem is made worse by the fact that those who

wish to become BN (O) have first to acquire BDTC status.

Naturalisation as BDTC normally takes about 18 months in Hong

Kong. There is at present no time limit on applications for

BDTC, therefore in theory eligible people may apply at any time

in the run up to 30 June 1997 in the expectation of becoming

BN (0) Soon after. Since time is also needed on top of the 18