Hong Kong (War Wives and Widows) Act 1996 (1996 c. 41)

1 Acquisition of British citizenship.

(1) The Secretary of State may, on an application made for the purpose, register as a British citizen any woman who, before the passing of this Act, was the recipient or intended recipient of a UK settlement letter if—

(a) she has her residence, or principal residence, in Hong Kong; ...

[F1] Word in s. 1 repealed (13.1.2010) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 47(2)(a), 58(2), Sch. Pt. 2; S.I. 2009/2731, art. 4(f)(j)

(b) where she is no longer married to the man in recognition of whose service the assurance was given, she has not remarried; and

[F2] S. 1(c) and preceding word inserted (13.1.2010) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 47(2)(b), 58(2); S.I. 2009/2731, art. 4(f)

(2) In this section “UK settlement letter” means a letter written by the Secretary of State which—

(a) confirmed the assurance given to the intended recipient that, in recognition of her husband’s service, or her late or former husband’s service, in defence of Hong Kong during the Second World War, she could come to the United Kingdom for settlement at any time; and

(b) was sent by the Secretary of State to the Hong Kong Immigration Department for onward transmission to the intended recipient (whether or not she in fact received it).

2 Consequential nationality provisions.

(1) A woman who is registered as a British citizen by virtue of this Act shall be treated for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1981 as a British citizen otherwise than by descent.

[M1] 1981 c.61.

(2) The following provisions of that Act shall have effect as if this Act were included in that Act, namely—

[F3] Words in s. 2(2) omitted (4.4.2003) by virtue of Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Consequential and Incidental Provisions) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1016), art. 2(2), Sch. para. 8(a)

[F4] Words in s. 2(2) substituted (1.1.2004) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Consequential and Incidental Provisions) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1016), art. 2(1), Sch. para. 8(b)

[F5] Words in s. 2(2) inserted (1.1.2004) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Consequential and Incidental Provisions) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1016), art. 2(1), Sch. para. 8(c)

[F6] Words in s. 2(2) omitted (4.4.2003) by virtue of Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Consequential and Incidental Provisions) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1016), art. 2(2), Sch. para. 8(d)

3 Short title and extent.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Hong Kong (War Wives and Widows) Act 1996.

(2) This Act has the same extent as the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 mentioned in section 2(2) above.

[M2] 1981 c.61.