ITUD 340/13
RECEIVE
12 AUG 1993
DESK OFFICEK
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE LISBON
TELNO 87
OF. 111025Z AUGUST 93
CONFIDENTIAL
Монобого Jiten. Mr Wosrow
Tax.
please
・Sent 11/5.
Eun You
Avvervey for the extra meteoful (we discusse what) to be rent?
ठे
blu I month.
4
147174
MDLOAN 9372
COPY QPST?
11J12/8.
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, JLG HONG KONG, PEKING INFO ROUTINE ATTCT TAIPEI
HONG KONG NATIONALITY: MACAU ANGLE
1.
During recent Parliamentary debate on Hong Kong nationality questions, comparisons with Macau (a feature of debate in the run up to the 1990 British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act) resurfaced. We are sending you by fax transcripts of the Hansard extracts which refer to the Macau angle. Please now check with the Portugese our understanding of the terms on which Macau residents can acquire Portugese citizenship.
2.
Briefing prepared by HKD for use by Home Office Ministers in the recent debate refuted any suggestion that Portugal is granting citizenship to all residents of Macau. In response to the line that Portugal has been more generous to Macau residents than has the UK to Hong Kong residents, our briefing pointed out the historical differences of approach (eg that Portuguese nationality law does not differentiate between a Portuguese national in Macau and one in Portugal not the case with British nationality Law and Hong Kong).
3. Our understanding is that:
GRA
The Portuguese Nationality Act 1981 confers Portuguese nationality only on those children born in Macau of Portuguese citizens.
The Act ended the automatic acquisition of Portuguese nationality by children born to non-Portuguese in Macau.
Macau residents are eligible to naturalise as Portuguese citizens after 6 years residence in Macau subject to good character, economic independence, proof of a cultural connection with Portugal and ability to speak Portuguese (the last two criteria can be waived for persons of Portuguese descent or who have rendered important services to the Portuguese state).
4. Please establish from the Portugese whether the position
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