ENG-1995 — Page 474

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

The British Nationality Selection Scheme, which began in December 1990, enables up to 50 000 persons and their dependants to acquire British citizenship without having to leave Hong Kong. The first phase of the scheme ended on January 1, 1994. The second and final phase, which began on January 3, 1994, is progressing on course. By the end of 1995, a total of 128 392 persons, comprising 48 336 principal applicants and 80 056 dependants had been registered as British citizens under the

scheme.

The special provision in the US Immigration Act of 1990, which allows the deferred take-up of immigrant visas up to the end of the year 2001, would enable beneficiaries to have the confidence to continue to stay and work in Hong Kong.

Personal Documentation

During the year, 612 480 passports were issued, down 42 per cent from 1994. This total included 598 188 British National (Overseas) — or BN(O) -passports, compared with 1023 244 in 1994. Under a world-wide phased programme of registration for the BN(O) passports started in July 1993, eligible persons are called forward by age groups to apply for BN(O) passports before specific cut-off dates. The aim is to ensure that all Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens who wish to obtain BN(O) status are issued with such passports before 1997. The first six phases for persons born in 1976, and before, have been completed. At the end of the year, 2 490 164 persons had been registered as BN(O)s.

Demand for Certificates of Identity and re-entry permits decreased by 8.2 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. There are two types of identity card: the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, which states that the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Identity Card, which does not state that right. These identity cards will remain valid beyond July 1, 1997, until they are replaced by identity cards issued by the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

A fully automated system for booking appointments by telephone was introduced in December 1994 and has been well accepted by members of the public. It will gradually replace the queuing-for-a-tag system at the Registration of Persons Offices. In 1995, 669 524 new identity cards were issued: 298 336 to new arrivals and persons who reached the ages of 11 or 18 years, and 240 052 to people who had lost or damaged their identity cards or whose identity cards required amendments.

Naturalisation

During the year, 29 193 applications for naturalisation were received, a 126.6 per cent increase over the 12 885 applications in 1994. Applications for naturalisation or registration as British Dependent Territories citizens must be submitted by March 31, 1996, as stipulated in the Hong Kong (British Nationality) (Amendment) Order 1993. The department has continued its publicity programme to remind eligible persons of this cut-off date.

Marriages

Marriages in Hong Kong are governed by the Marriage Ordinance and the Marriage Reform Ordinance. At least 15 days' notice of an intended marriage must be given to

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