the home secretary can exercise discretion under section 3(1) of the 1981 act and register any child as a british citizen even if they may not meet the formal criteria. certain adopted children would also be registered under this provision if their adoptions were not made in accordance with the hague convention. registration under section 3(1) confers citizenship "otherwise than by descent" if neither parent was a british citizen at the time of registration, or "by descent" if either parent was a british citizen at that time.