§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will explain the basis for their assertion that an Indian minor who acquires British nationality by registration does not lose Indian nationality; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of any correspondence between the British High Commission in New Delhi and the Indian Government on this subject. [HL4594]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanI thank the noble Lord for his Question on minors with Indian nationality who were registered in Hong Kong as British Nationals (Overseas).
Under Indian nationality law, Indian citizens who voluntarily acquire another citizenship lose their Indian citizenship. However, minors are deemed incapable of voluntarily acquiring another citizenship. Thus minors who held Indian citizenship and otherwise acquired British Dependent Territories Citizenship or British National (Overseas) status do not lose Indian nationality as a consequence.
It is a statutory requirement for registration as a British Citizen under Section 1 of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 that the applicant must have been solely British, and not hold another citizenship, both on 4 February 1997 when the Act was passed and on the date of application for citizenship.
We will place copies of the press release issued by the Government of India on this subject in the Library of the House.