TNAG-2631-FCO40-3822-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-Nationality-(Hong-K-1992 — Page 69

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TO ROUTINE HONG KONG

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OF 19170OZ DECEMBER 91

AND TO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG

INFO ROUTINE PEKING

BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) ACT 1990: SECTION 2(2)

1.

I T

YOU WILL RECALL AN EXCHANGE OF CORRESPONDENCE LAST YEAR CONCERNING SECTION 2(2) OF THE BNHKA UNDER WHICH A BDTC SHALL LOSE THAT STATUS UPON BECOMING A BRITISH CITIZEN BY VIRTUE OF THIS ACT''. MRS IP'S LETTER TO PAGE OF 20 AUGUST 1990 STATED THAT THIS SUB-SECTION WAS NOT INTENDED TO COME INTO FORCE UNTIL LOCAL LEGISLATION HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO GIVE EFFECT TO JD 159 TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE (INCLUDING THOSE WHO CEASE TO BE BDTCS UNDER THE BNHKA) WILL NOT LOSE THEIR RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG. PAGE'S LETTER OF 22 AUGUST TO MRS IP RECORDED THE VIEW THAT SUCH LOCAL LEGISLATION SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY DELAYED, AND THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE IN PLACE BY THE TIME THE FIRST PASSPORTS WERE DUE TO BE ISSUED.

2.

ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE HAVE NOT PRESSED IN THE INTERIM, IT REMAINS ESSENTIAL TO BRING SECTION 2(2) INTO FORCE. WE APPRECIATE THAT IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT (AS JLG XXI SHOWED) TO MAKE PROGRESS ON DISCUSSING JD 159 WITH THE

CHINESE. BUT WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY ASSESSMENT YOU CAN GIVE ON WHEN YOU EXPECT TO BE IN A POSITION TO ENACT THE NECESSARY LOCAL LEGISLATION WHICH WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO BRING SECTION 2(2) INTO FORCE. WILL IT BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE IN THE JLG BEFORE YOU CAN DO SO?

HURD

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