CONFIDENTIAL
the Melauan
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Mr Murray PS/PUS
IMMIGRATION INTO HONG KONG
1.
HKK 341/1
RACHIVED HI RAGSTAT NO. JE
30 JUN 978
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
Action 14
R. ELE
The PUS has asked (in a comment on my recent background brief on the problem of immigration into Hong Kong) whether illegal immigrants from China become British subjects and, if so, how.
2. For nationality purposes, the population of Hong Kong falls into three main categories:
3.
a)
citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies with the
right of entry to Britain. There are fewer than 30,000 of these according to the most recent estimate; most of them are. of British origin;
b)
United Kingdom citizens without the right of entry to Britain (2.6m). The great majority are Chinese born in
Hong Kong;
c) Hong Kong residents who are not citizens of the United Kingad8mhe great majority are immigrants from China, legal
or illegal.
Hong Kong residents in categories (a) and (b) above are entitled to British passports. Those in category (c) are, for the most part, Chinese nationals who are in theory entitled to Chinese
passports. Most are either unable to obtain Chinese documents or do not wish to do so. When they travel abroad the Hong Kong Government issue them with special Hong Kong travel documents.
These documents do not confer national status but simply act as a guarantee that those who hold them will be readmitted into Hong Kong.
4. As Hong Kong is a colony aliens who have lived there for five years, including illegal immigrants who have been allowed to stay, are eligible to apply for naturalization as United Kingdom citizens. Once an application has been approved, the person concerned may be granted a British passport but will not have the right of entry to
CONFIDENTIAL