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necessary amended, before
introduction in the normal way
under affirmative resolution procedures. The Home Office
therefore propose to publish the White Paper in Hong Kong
and London in mid-October, allowing two months for
discussion in Hong Kong before the first parliamentary
debate in mid-December. They will then withdraw the order and reintroduce it in March/April 1986.
7.
Home Office in the
to ensure that Hong
account.
The Home
present in support.
We will liaise closely with the
preparation for the debate on the Order
Kong's interests are tak en fully into
Office may ask for an FCO Minister to be
I think that it is very important in PR terms in Hong Kong
that an FCO Minister should be seen to be there: otherwise
there will be the usual criticism that we "don't care".
8. As well as the predictable nationality points that will
be made by Enoch Powell оп one side and by those who are
opposed to the BNA 1981 on the other, the most controversial
area in discussion of the Order is likely to be the question
of
statelessness: The Indian community in Hong Kong mounted
a campaign during the passage of the Hong Kong Bill for the
right of abode in the UK to be extended to them. They
argued that they would be left stateless as a result of the
agreement. As a
concession we agreed that grandchildren as
well as children, born after 1 July 1997 to
born after 1 July 1997 to former Hong Kong
BDTCs could acquire British Overseas Citizenship. There is
evidence that the Indian community will mount a further
campaign during the passage of the Order. There
scope for further concessions to them, but the Government's
position on this point now seems wholly defensible.
is
no
9. It is conceivable that the Chinese might note that under
the Order BN (O)s will be Commonwealth Citizens and raise
this with us.
We have maintained this provision in the
order because of the important range of rights that go with
Commonwealth Citizenship. I f the Chinese did raise the
matter with us we should explain that the provision does not
imply that Hong Kong is part of the Commonwealth, but is
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