CONFIDENTIAL
PARALLELS WITH EAST AFRICAN ASIANS
It is quite inappropriate to draw a parallel between the position of non ethnic Chinese former BDTCs in Hong Kong after 1997 and the unique situation of the East African Asians. The East African Asians were allowed to settle in the United Kingdom under a special voucher scheme because of the hardship they suffered by being under pressure to leave East Africa with nowhere else to go. The Hong Kong agreement however provides for all those who have made Hong Kong their home to continue to live there.
EURASIANS
A number of Noble Lords have referred to Eurasians in Hong Kong. Those Eurasian BDTCs who are not considered by the Chinese to be Chinese citizens and who do not hold other nationality will fall into the same category as the ethnic Indians to whom I have just referred.
A
The Chinese nationality law states that with certain exceptions any person born in China or abroad, one of whose parents is a Chinese National, has Chinese nationality. number of Eurasians who are regarded as Chinese nationals will therefore fall into the same category as ethnic
Chinese BDTCs.
CONFIDENTIAL