TNAG-2932-FCO40-4207-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 97

1985 Ed.]

Hong Kong Act 1985

[App. II

Annex D

BI

(

HONG KONG ACT 1985

(Chapter 15)

An Act to make provision for and in connection with the ending of

British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong.

[4 April 1985.]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1. (1) As from 1st July 1997 Her Majesty shall no longer have sovereignty or jurisdiction over any part of Hong Kong.

(2) This section shall come into force on the exchange of instruments of ratification of the Joint Declaration of the Govern- ment of the United Kingdom and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong which was signed in Peking on 19th December 1984; and notice of the date on which those instruments are exchanged shall be given in the London Gazette.

2. (1) This Act may be cited as the Hong Kong Act 1985.

(2) The Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the matters there mentioned, being matters consequential on or connected with the provisions of section I above or the Declaration mentioned in that section.

L.N. 301/85.

Ending of British

sovereignty and jurisdiction over

Hong Kong.

Short title and supplementary provisions.

SCHEDULE

Supplementary ProvisIONS

Preliminary

1. In this Schedule "the relevant date" means 1st July 1997 and "enactment" means any provision of an Act, other than this Act, passed before the relevant date and any provision of an instrument made before that date under any such Act.

Nationality

1. (1) Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision whereby-

(a) British Dependent Territories citizenship cannot be retained or acquired on or after the relevant date by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong: and

(b) persons who are British Dependent Territories citizens by virtue of any such connection may before that date for before the end of 1997 if born in that year before the relevant dater acquire a new form of British nationality the holders of which shall be known as British Nationals (Overseas).

(2) An Order under this paragraph may require applications in respect of the new status mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) above to be made before such time or times as are specified in the Order and may make provision whereby that status is to

Section 221.