TNAG-2630-FCO40-3821-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1992 — Page 37

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

TUE 17 NOV 92 09:56__

PG.10

8

accept late applications where applicants have good

reasons for not applying within their cut-off

dates().

13.

Home Office and FCO Ministers have approved

these proposals in principle. Therefore, if Members

also approve this approach, the programme must start in

mid-1993 or as soon thereafter as the legislative

process allows. This is because, if everyone eligible

to apply were to do so, the numbers would increasingly

exceed our capacity to cope as 1997 drew nearer. It

is, of course, unlikely that everyone will apply. But

we have no way of predicting the actual numbers and

must therefore work on the assumption that most, if not

all, eligible people will want BN (0) passports. For

estimating purposes, we have assumed an uptake of

70%(6)

Note (5) :

Note (6) :

The legislation should provide that

people who become naturalized during or

after their call-up phase may apply for

registration as BN (0)s provided that

they apply within, say, three months of

the date of naturalization.

This is based on past and present

statistical trends and some guesswork

about the effects of the publicity

campaign.