CONFIDENTIAL
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those debates and will consider if the call for any
changes to be made in the terms of the draft Order (which
must of course be consistent with the Joint Declaration
and the Act) before it is re-presented for approval.
3.
Her Majestys
The Government consider that the widest possible
consideration should now be give to the proposals in the
draft Order both in Hong Kong and in the United Kingdom.
they have Accordingly it has arranged for this White Paper to be
published simultaneously in Hong Kong. intend to
It
allow ample time for the public to make known their views
before initiating the first debates in both Houses on this
White Paper and the annexed draft Order referred to in the
previous paragraph. To assist the process of public
consideration paragraphs 4 to 7 outline the background to
the provisions which the draft Order will put into effect,
and paragraph 8 to 33 provide a commentary on the draft
Order.
Background
4.
The Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong
was accompanied by an exchange of Memoranda between Her
Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government setting
out their respective positions as to the status of British
Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong and related issues (Cmnd 9352). The Government in their memorandum
state that all those who on 30 June 1997 are BDTCs by
virtue of a connection with Hong Kong will cease to have
that status from 1 July 1997, but will be eligible to
retain an appropriate status which will enable them to
continue to use British passports, provided that they hold
or are included in such a passport before 1 July 1997 (or
31 December 1997 if born in the first six months of that
year). BDT citizenship will not be acquired on or after
1 July 1997 by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong.
Arrangements will be made for the renewal and replacement
of the new passports by United Kingdom Consular Officers,
and for the holders of such passports to receive British
Consular protection when in third countries. The Chinese
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