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anyone who had right of abode only in Hong Kong before 1 July 1997. They cover all the non-ethnic Chinese
British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong,
unless they have left Hong Kong permanently and have
the right of abode elsewhere.
The Indian community in particular, with support from the Executive
and Legislative Councils of Hong Kong, argue that these provisions do not go far enough. They are concerned firstly
that BN(0) status will not itself give them right of abode in Hong Kong: this will be a matter for the Chinese Government. And secondly, they are concerned about the future nationality
status of their descendants after the second generation born.
after 1997. They have therefore asked to be granted British
citizenship, rather than BN (0) or BOC status. The Unofficial
Members have also asked that some 400 or so former servicemen
in Hong Kong should be granted British citizenship or altern-
atively that the Government should consider sympathetically any application they might make for registration as British
citizens under section 4(5) of the British Nationality Act
1981.
I shall listen very carefully to all that is said in the debate
but I have to say that the Government is not persuaded that
it would be right to grant British citizenship to those
BDTCs who are not ethnically Chinese. They want to continue
to live in Hong Kong. The Joint Declaration guarantees
/their