K4AVM
Mr Charles Solomon
1 Willow Croft Upper Poppleton YORK
YD2 6EE
233 4475
14 February 1986
Thank
you for your Letter of 22 January to the Minister of State about Hong Kong. I have been asked to reply.
There are
currently about 31/4 million people in Hong Kong who are British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs).
BDTCs are subject to control under the Rules and do not have the right of abode in
Immigration
the UK.
The Sino-British Agreement on the future of Hong Kong includes an exchange of memoranda on nationality, which clarifies the position of the future nationality status of Hong Kong BDTCS.
The Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China regards all Hong Kong Chinese, whether BDTCs or not,
not, as Chinese nationals. There is therefore no question of their becoming stateless.
The position of ethnic minority groups who are BDTCS and who are not regarded as Chinese nationals by the Government of the PRC is more complex. Their situation has been the subject of much debate both here and in Hong Kong, and fears that some non-Chinese people would become stateless or have no place of residence as a result of the
have agreement
been raised. We believe these fears are without foundation.
The measures
we have taken to introduce a new form of nationality to be called British National (Overseas) which will be available to all Hong Kong BDTCS, including the ethnic minorities, will
no-one need be Sino-British Agreement. the right of abode in
that ensure a result of the Agreement guarantees
stateless
as
Also, the