05 14:34 MIN(000) HK GOVI
8
the UK. Mr. Swaine made a similar plea for former
servicemen of Hong Kong in recognition of their
military service in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
Grant
of right of abode in the UK is a matter for Her
Majesty's Government, and I have no doubt that the
eloquent pleas made on their behalf by those in this
Council and others outside will reach the ears of
those in Westminster by the time that the draft order
comes to be debated.
But there is no question of any person who
ceases to be a BDTC on 1 July 1997 by virtue of
provisions in the draft Order in Council, or any
child born on or after 1 July 1997 to such a person,
becoming stateless thereafter. Article 6 of the
draft Order provides that any person who ceases to be
a BDTC on 1 July 1997 shall automatically become a
British Overseas citizen if he would otherwise be
stateless. So will any child of a former BDTC born
on or after 1 July 1997. The grandhchild of a former
BDTC will have an entitlement to register as a BOC
within 12 months of his birth. Thus the draft Order
in Council provides for a form of British nationality
to be granted to former BDTCs, their children and
grandchildren if they would otherwise be stateless.
Like the Chinese BDTCS, BDTCs who are not of Chinese
origin will have a right of abode in Hong Kong after
1997 provided that they satisfy the conditions for
acquisition of right of abode in the Hong Kong SAR in
P.9