毛主席万岁
HONG KONG'S LEGISLATIVE
COUNCILLORS SUPPORT
MINORITIES
During the Debate held in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on 4 December, 1985, ten Councillors, both elected and appointed, spoke on the proposed nationality changes for British Dependent Territories Citizens (BDTCs). Three of the Honourable members, Hui Yin Fat, Hilton Cheong-Leen and Dr. Ho Kam Fai spoke on the technical aspects of the new passports, while the others covered the problems which ethnic minority BDTCs will face as a result of the new status. Excerpts from their speeches are given below. For your information, the initials BN(O) and BOC refer to British Nationals (Overseas) and British Overseas Citizens.
"No one should become stateless during the transfer of sovereignty nor in the future.'
We are living in a free world. These minorities in Hong Kong choose to become British nationals because they have faith in the British Government. It is unethical for the British Government to turn her back and wash her hands clean with regard to less than ten thousand minorities in this category. One argument that I have heard is that even for a British citizen living outside of Britain for two generations, the third generation will lose British citizenship; but the difference is that the British citizen has the freedom of choice. In the case of the minorities in Hong Kong, they do not have this freedom of choice. Therefore, I strongly urge the British Government on the grounds that they are non-Chinese ethnic minorities, to offer them British citizenship or British
Dependent Territory Citizenship in another British Dependent Territory. Another argument is that if Britain offers British citizenship or BDTC status to the minorities in Hong Kong, what about the ethnic Chinese BDTC passport holders? What would be their reaction? I have talked to quite a few Chinese BDTC passport holders, I can safely say that they have no objection to the minorities obtaining British citizenship or retaining the BDTC status; in fact, they wish the minorities the best of luck.
In my view this is a British responsibility, failing to take up this responsibility is unthinkable. I hope members of the British. Parliament consider this case carefully.
The Hon. Allen Lee, OBE, JP