ME 2AEK
BACKGROUND
CONFIDENTIAL
1
11. Nationality
is a particularly
sensitive issue in
Hong Kong. Many people there believe that the BNA 1981
was specifically passed to give them a second class citizenship and prevent them emigrating to the UK as 1997
approaches.
There will therefore be considerable
suspicion of the Nationality Order in Council.
12.
Mr Renton is
familiar with the Order which was
published in a White Paper in Hong Kong and the UK on 17
October. It is
is designed to give legislative effect to
the terms of the UK Memorandum on nationality associated
with the Joint Declaration. It provides that BDTCs by
virtue of
connection with Hong Kong will lose that
status on 1 July 1997, but will be able to acquire BN (O)
status and retain it for the rest of their lives. The
Chinese position is that BDTCs of Chinese origin in Hong
Kong are Chinese citizens. They were however prepared,
even though they do not recognise dual nationality, for
those who were BDTCs in 1997 to retain
retain a form of British
Nationality, so long
long as it was not called BDTC, for the
rest of their lives.
13. The Order has been published two months before the proposed date for Parliamentary debate in order to allow
the people of Hong Kong time to express their views.
LEGCO are likely to debate it. It will then be debated
"with green edges" by Parliament, withdrawn and if necessary amended, before being formally laid
laid next year
and debated in the normal way under affirmative
resoluti on procedures. The parliamentary timetable has
not yet been agreed with the whips, but we expect the
first debate to take place in mid-December.
14. We continue to be criticised by the Indian community
in Hong Kong, who claim that they will be made stateless
by the
In fact we have
provided for the
agreement.
children and grandchildren of former
BDTCs born after
口袋
CONFIDENTIAL