d) BDTCs of Indian origin in Hong Kong have made it plain through their Council that they wish to continue to live in Hong Kong. Granting them British citizenship, and thus right of abode in the United Kingdom, will not help to do this. Their future is safeguarded by the agreement.
e) There is no substance in the suggestion (made by the council of Hong Kong Indian Associations) that the Agreement with the Chinese, or the provisions of Article 6, are racially based. The Government recognise an obligation to ensure that no-one is left stateless in 1997. The provisions made will apply to any former Hong Kong BDTCS, whatever their ethnic origin, who do not become BN (0)s and who would otherwise be
To grant stateless, and their children and grandchildren.
British citizenship to the non-ethnic Chinese BDTCs could lead to claims for similar treatment from the Chinese Hong
Kong BDTCs.
f)
The provisions of Article 6 will enable non-ethnic Chinese Hong Kong BDTCs and their descedents to retain a form of British nationality for 3 generations, until about the middle of the next century. By then the link with Britain will be more than tenuous. The Government believe that the right way for these people who are living in what will by then have been part of China for over 50 years will be to seek Chinese nationality.
g) The position would be exactly the same if the non-ethnic
An under- Chinese BDTCs were to be granted British citizenship. lying principle of our nationality law for many years is that our citizenship can be transmitted to only one generation born abroad. The children born outside the United Kingdom after 1997 to non-ethnic Chinese would therefore be British citizens by descent, and could not transmit that citizenship to the next generation, ie the grandchildren. That generation will
31.2