TNAG-2939-FCO40-4215-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 89

BDTC/BN (0)/BOC Passports

Not second-rate. They are accepted around the world; need for entry clearance for short term UK visits. Confers Commonwealth citizenship; holders enjoy British consular

protection both in Hong Kong (for non-Chinese holders) and world-wide. Special provisions (Hong Kong, British Nationality, Order 1986), allow three generations to enjoy

these benefits.

no

(B) BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN

The Home Secretary has said that wives and widows of

former servicemen will be allowed to settle in the UK at any

time in the future. Once here, they can apply for British citizenship in the normal way. I wrote recently to Mrs Tu, Chairman of the LegCo House Committee on this point.

There is no power in existing Nationality law to grant this category citizenship while they remain in Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, we have asked the Home Office to look again at

this issue.

(C) REGISTRATION OF CHILDREN OF "SPLIT" FAMILIES

Good progress on processing applications for British citizenship for these individuals. Since the Home Secretary

agreed last year to relax criteria for this category, the Home

Office has received 190 applications involving 126 families.

112 applications have so far been approved. None have so far

been refused.

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