§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEasked Her Majesty's Government:
How long it takes to become a British subject in the Colony of Hong Kong, and whether a clean bill of health is required for immigrants who are British' subjects.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF PERTH)The requirements for the acquisition of British nationality by aliens are laid down in the Second Schedule of the British Nationality Act, 1948. An alien must have continuously resided in a British territory for a minimum of five years before he can apply for naturalisation. Thorough inquiries are made into all applications; in the case of applications made to the Governor of Hong 315WA Kong the necessary administrative processes may take from 6 to 12 months before a certificate of naturalisation is issued.
A British subject cannot be refused admission to this country on medical or any other grounds, but port medical officers are empowered to take action to safeguard the public health in the case of British subjects thought to be suffering from infectious or communicable diseases on arrival.