ODE 18-77
32+01:
Reference
124A
Mr Whomersley I al Advisers
Mr Williamson HKGD
Mr Paterson
NTD
CA J7
HICK 340
Hick
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
ly
2 5 NOV 1980
Separate Copies
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
I RECISTRY
CONSULAR PROTECTION FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS
Your minute of 10 November.
123
Action Taken
Awa/
see (127
1. You ask for a statement on the obligations of the FCO for a resident of Hong Kong.
2. "Residents of Hong Kong" needs defining. in Hong Kong fall into two general categories:
(a) born in Hong Kong
Those persons living
(b) born in mainland China who have taken up legal residence.
3. I will deal with category (b) first. Such persons travel on a Certificate of Identity which shows their nationality as stateless. Their travel documents are renewed by our Consular officers within the period of validity of the travel document. They are not given consular protection.
4. As you know Hong Kong is a colony and a person born there (category (a)) is described within the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1948 as a British Subject, Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies a description which applies equally to persons born in the country.
5. Subject to the views of NTD and Legal Advisers, I would suggest that Sir S Y Chung be informed that persons born in Hong Kong will be given the same consular protection as other British Subjects, Citizens of the UK and Colonies, DSP 29.1.1.1 refers.
12 November 1980
Килит
K C Dean
Consular Department