Yorkshire Bank took place in the bank's heartland and many miners were customers, having been encouraged by the National Coal Board to have their pay mandated to a bank account. In 1990, the National Australia Bank Group acquired the bank from the consortium of owning banks which, after mergers and acquisitions, were the National Westminster Bank, (holders of 40%), Barclays Bank (32%), Lloyds Bank (20%), and Royal Bank of Scotland (8%). The price paid was £1 billion and the bank joined National Australia Bank's other European businesses, Clydesdale Bank (Scotland) and Northern Bank (which operated in both jurisdictions in Ireland). In May
British consular protection for BN(O) passport holders British consular protection for BN(O) passport holders The British Government asserts that British National (Overseas) passport holders enjoy the same level of consular service in third countries (outside the UK and PRC) as other British Nationals. In 2000, the British Government asserts that "Cantonese-speaking staff at the British Consulate-General pay periodic visits to the 80 or so BN(O)s who are in prison in Thailand." In 2005, the British Consulate-General Hong Kong advertised for renewal of BN(O) passports in some magazines (e.g. "HK Magazine") in Hong Kong, saying that "Travel with confidence on your BN(O) passport. Reliable. Secure. And renewable for