CONFIDENTIAL
3.
again
in
This sense of grievance came to the fore
1983/84 when we were negotiating the Agreement with the
Chinese. Hong Kong at first insisted that we should argue
for the term BD TC to be retained after 30 June 1997. It
became immediately obvious when we did So that this was
unacceptable to the Chinese.
Use of the term BD TC after
This was
that date would, they told us, imply that Hong Kong would
still be a British Dependent Territory
They
themselves hinted that Hong Kong BD TCs should become BOCs.
not acceptable to Hong Kong as BOC status
remained in EXCO's view a "third class" citizenship not
reflecting a connection with anywhere.
agreed to try for a new form of British nationality which
preserved all the existing rights
of BD TC status while
retaining a Hong Kong identity. The Chinese
agreed
to
a new
and status
British National
We therefore
even tually
(Overseas)
which will only be given to Hong Kong BD TC s and
therefore distinctive
-
is
was the result, although we were
not successful
which a BD TC
transmissible.
in
preserving for BN (0) s
enjoys, in that the
all the rights
status
will not be
(b) Who will be BN (0) s and who BOCs?
4.
who have a
BN (0) status is strictly for those
qualifying connection with Hong Kong prior to 1 July 1997,
ie Hong Kong BD TCs. It is not transmissible and therefore
by definition
after that date can be a BN (0).
for and granted before 1 July
Most BN (0) s will be Chinese nationals in
no-one born
It must also be applied
1997.
eyes.
To
Chinese
comply with our obligations under the UN
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness we have also
had to provide that any Hong Kong BD TC who does not opt to
acquire BN (0) status before 1 July 1997 and who would
otherwise
BD TC s such as the
At the urging
made provisions for
be stateless
(ie
non-Chinese
Indians) will become a BOC on 1 July 1997.
of the Indians, we have in addition
the children and grandchildren. born in Hong Kong on or after 1 July 1997 of former Hong Kong BD TCs to acquire BOC
CONFIDEN TIAL