TNAG-2932-FCO40-4207-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 102

To bear in mind for the visit lorifi

Panju1als

Reference: NATbnoprog.dbj

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grateful for this dear

explanation.

Mr Ricketts

PS/Mr Goodlad

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6.J. Dorey it's

Mingar

86

Asists.

From: Deborah Barnes Jones

Hong Kong Department

Date: 12 May 1993

Cc:

Mr Hum

M

Mr Maris

Miss Everett, News

Department

Mr Morris, NTCD Miss Brooks, Legal

Counsellor

- pa 1415.

Yots B-5.

Thanks from me.

BRITISH NATIONALITY, HONG KONG: BNO REGISTRATION PROGRAMME

1.

As requested by PS/Mr Goodlad, I attach a note on the phased registration programme for British Nationals (Overseas) (BNO). An enabling Order in Council (on which NTCD, our departmental Legal Adviser and Hong Kong have advised) is now in the final stages of preparation by the Home Office. We expect that the Home Office (who are responsible for its Parliamentary handling) will lay it by the end of the month.

2. As the note makes clear, LegCo initially accepted the need for the programme but more recently some members (particularly Emily Lau) have mounted a vociferous campaign arguing that the programme will remove the "right" of BDTCs to apply for BN (0) status right up to 30 June 1997. The Governor has now responded to this concern (see Hong Kong telno 740, paragraph 7) by outlining how late applications might be dealt with (by an appeals tribunal).

3.

It seems probable that the LegCo delegation coming to London on 15/16 June to lobby for full British citizenship for ethnic minorities may also seek to lobby on this programme, and Mr Goodlad may be asked about it when he visits Hong Kong. We will provide points to make.

4.

There has been some interest in the UK press. I attach two recent pieces from the Guardian.

no Barnes Jones.

Deborah Barnes Jones

нко забр

RE

27 MA) 1993

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