TNAG-2933-FCO40-4208-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 87

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NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN (BOC) PASSPORTS

vis a vis BN(0) passports

INTRODUCTION

1. At the meeting of 4 May, Members asked for an information

note on the BOC status after discussion of a recent media

exchange on the subject. At the meeting on 18 May, Members

asked for an information note on the difference between the

BN (0) passport and the BOC passport. This note responds to

both requests which overlap.

BACKGROUND

The Origin of BOC Status

2.

BOC status came into existence with the commencement of the

British Nationality Act 1981 in 1983, for those people who were previously Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who did not become British Citizens or British Dependent Territories

Citizens. These were people amongst others who had a connection with an ex-British colony, but who did not become

nationals of the ex-colony when it became independent, for example some Asians in East Africa.

3. BOC status will likewise in 1997 become the residual option

(to avoid statelessness) for those Hong Kong BDTCS who do not

become Chinese nationals, and for those who are not citizens of

ethnic some other country nor BN (0) s. All Chinese will become Chinese nationals in 1997 automatically, and the ethnic minorities may

exconote28.5/BRIEFS/NJH

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