CONFIDENTIAL
those debates and will consider if these 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 Hong Kong Act) before it is re-presented
for approval.
3.
Her Majesty's Government hope that the widest possible consideration
will now be given to the proposals in the draft Order both in Hong Kong
and in the United Kingdom. Accordingly they have arranged for this White
Paper to be published simultaneously in Hong Kong. They intend to allow
ample time for the public to make known their views before initiating the
first debates in both Houses. 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 paragraphs 8 to 33
provide a commentary on the draft Order itself.
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 (BDTCs) in Hong Kong and
related issues (Cmnd 9352). Her Majesty's 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 with effect from
1 July 1997, and it will not be possible to acquire BDT citizenship by
virtue of a connection with Hong Kong on or after 1 July 1997. But those
who will lose BDT citizenship will be eligible to retain an appropriate
status (not to be acquired by anyone born on or after 1 July 1997) 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 up to 31
December 1997 if born in the first six months of that year). Arrangements
will be made for the renewal and replacement of those passports by United
Kingdom Consular Officers, and for the holders of such passports to
receive British Consular protection when in third countries.