CONFIDENTIAL
23.
I realise that there has been disappointment that we were not able to obtain transmissibility of British nationa! status by descent after I July 1997. We fought very hard to retain this benefit, which is of course one currently enjoyed by British Dependent Territories citizens. But the Chinese
Government were
were not prepared to agree that anyone born after 1997 should acquire British nationality by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong.
24.
Therefore the
Despite the clear statements which were made when this
matter was debated in Another Place there may be some continuing misapprehension about the possibility that people who are now British nationals could be made stateless by these arrangements. I am glad to take the opportunity to
reassure noble Lords that this will not happen. We intend fully to comply with our obligations under the 1961
convention on the reduction of statelessness.
draft legislation which the Government will in due course bring before the House will include provisions which will enable us to ensure that any British national in Hong Kong who would otherwise have become stateless as a result of
these arrangements will retain a form of British nationality. It will also enable provisions to be made for any children of
ex-British Dependent Territories citizens who would otherwise
be born stateless to acquire British nationality. Those
ex-British Dependent Territories citizens whom the Chinese
Government do not regard as their nationals and who have no
other nationality will not be left stateless and neither will
their children.
CONFIDENTIAL