Chinese community in Hong Kong.
19.
a
best
guarantee
For those who fear statelessness, the provision in Article 6
and those in agreement need to be considered together. They provide
recognised nationality status, that of British Overseas Citizen,
which properly reflects a person's relationship with Britain; and
they ensure that no BD TC in Hong Kong will be at risk of becoming
stateless. The right of abode provisions agreed with the Chinese
Government provide the
possible that those
established in Hong Kong and their children will be able to continue
to live there. There is по other satisfactory or reliable way to
provide people in Hong Kong with what they want the right of abode
there. In the unlikely event however of any British national being
forced to leave Hong Kong and having nowhere to go the Government
have made it clear, and I want to repeat again, that we would expect
the Government of the day to consider sympathetically whether to
such people on a case by case basis in the light of the
particular circumstances.
admit
20.
Bill,
for those who
been part of
become Chinese
A s Ministers made clear during the debate on the Hong Kong
the Government's view is that the right course
have permanently settled in what by then will have
China for many years will be for them to apply to
nationals. We have discussed this with the Chinese Government in
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, and they have confirmed that
Chinese nationality laws allow people living in China who are
stateless to apply for Chinese nationality, and that their cases
would be delt with by the appropriate authorities. They will not of
Course be compelled to apply for Chinese nationality
the
21.
As regards the former servicemen in Hong Kong the Government
fully recognise the contribution they made during the war and indeed
the contribution made by many people in Hong Kong during those
years. But it does not necessarily follow that
this
contribution
now by granting them British
we should mark
citizenship.
Their
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