§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why no reply has yet been sent to a letter dated 19 December 2003 from Mr J B, reference EM00472, addressed to the British Consulate in Hong Kong and forwarded to the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Department in Liverpool, concerning his original application for registration as a British citizen under Section 1 of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997; and whether they will now deal with this matter, and with the legal opinion which accompanied Mr J B's letter. [HL4492]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalA reply was sent to Mr J B on 21 October via the British Consulate in Hong Kong.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that all the solely British ethnic minorities of Hong Kong, including minors, who ceased to be Indian citizens by virtue of their acquisition of British National (Overseas) status by registration, are able to exercise their entitlement under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 to register as British citizens. [HL4497]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalA British national (overseas) has an entitlement to be registered as a144WA British citizen under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 if he or she holds no other citizenship and was ordinarily resident in Hong Kong immediately before 4 February 1997 and at the time of application for British citizenship.
In the case of minors of Indian origin it is the common understanding of Her Majesty's Government and of the Government of India that the acquisition of British national (overseas) status would not cause a minor Indian citizen to lose his or her Indian citizenship. Such minors therefore do not meet the criteria set out in the 1997 Act.