when the British Nationality Act 1981 came into force). They are not able to transmit the citizenship to children born in Hong Kong before this date. The Home Secretary agreed last September to look generously and speedily at applications from families in this position for their children to be registered as British citizens under Section 3 (i) of the British Nationality Act. So far 148 applications out of 197 received have been successful.
yet been refused.
42.
None has
The Committee considered that the Government had an obligation to provide citizenship to non-Chinese British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTCs). There is continuing concern in Hong Kong (reflected in a recent Report by the Nationality Sub-Committee of the Legislative Council and supported unanimously by the full Council) about the position of this group. The Government consider that their position is adequately protected by arrangements already in place and that there is no case for fresh legislation. The non-Chinese community's position in Hong Kong is secure; neither they nor their children or grandchildren will be stateless; they are eligible to apply for British citizenship under the British Nationality Scheme (and some have been successful); and the Government stand by their undertaking to consider with particular sympathy the case for admission to the UK if, contrary to expectations, members of this community with solely British nationality were to come under pressure to leave Hong Kong in the future.
43. On 1 July 1997, the status of British Dependent Territory Citizen (BDTC) in Hong Kong will lapse, as provided in the UK Memorandum annexed to the Joint Declaration. It will be replaced
by British National (Overseas) (BNO) status. The Government consider that in order to avoid a last minute rush in 1997 by those registering as BNOs, a phased scheme for registering BDTCs as BNOS should be introduced. The Government is planning to introduce an Order in Council by June prescribing cut-off dates
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