CONFIDENTIAL
040/31.
VED IN REGISTR
18 DEC 1984
183,
HOME OFFICE
Lunar House Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY
Telephone AJKXMXXXFTG XAIR
QaxiomattoxXxXXXXXX
Telegram IMMNAT CROYDON
RECEIVELY
01-686 3499 Ext 3590
DESK OFFICEREM
An
INDEX
PA
4
80
Mr C Hum
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Hong Kong Dept)
LONDON SW1
Please reply to The Under Secretary of State Your reference
Our reference
NTY/84 1337/0/8
Date
7 December 1984
Dear Mr Hum
HONG KONG: HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE 10 DECEMBER
We spoke yesterday.
One of the nationality points which came out of the House of Commons debate the other day was the position of the non-Chinese BDTCs after 1997. Concern was expressed that these people could become stateless on the loss of their British Dependent Territories citizenship, and that their children might also be stateless.
As you know, provision will be made in the forthcoming legislation to ensure that this will not happen. But despite the assurances already given, it seems clear that the spectre of statelessness is a matter which has aroused concern and fear among the Hong Kong residents likely to be affected. It would be helpful, therefore, if Lady Young's opening speech could place some emphasis on the provisions which we intend to make to ensure that no British national will be left stateless as a result of the Agreement.
I attach a draft paragraph which you might care to use.
ENC
CONFIDENTIAL
Yours sincerely
J P EMERY
Nationality Division