LB 2 ABO
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Mrs J Pickup
Flat 36, 8th Floor
Nairn House
2-4 Princess Margaret Road.
Kowloon
HONG KONG
НКК
040/4
REGISTE
Telephone 01-
233 4475
- 7 MAR 1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Jeton Taken
Your reference
Our reference
Date
6 March 1986
pa
Thank
for you
7
your letter of 21 January to the Minister of State. I have been asked to reply. The contents of your letter
cuttings enclosed with it have been
and the
interest.
new
press
The
read with
SO
The people to whom you refer form part of the population of 31/4 million British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong who will lose that status in 1997, when sovereignty over Hong Kong
is
transferred to China, but who will be entitled to acquire the
National of British
(Overseas). status
10,000 or non-ethnic Chinese, unlike the great majority of British Dependent
citizens Territories
in Hong Kong, will not be their nationals.
therefore They have British
rather citizenship
they would otherwise
Chinese
as
granted (Overseas)
1997.
was
than
if status
the regarded by
asked to be British National
in
become stateless
in both Houses of
to give their
position in 1997 The Parliament.
careful request
to lay in which
the implement
The ethnic minorities' concern over their position echoed
debates in recent Government has undertak en consideration before deciding before Parliament the draft Order in Council to relevant nationality provisions.
on
the final form
recession,
It is, as you know, the Government's clear policy that, at a time of high unemployment in economic
primary immigration to this country should be severely restricted and I appreciate your concern on this point.
I can assure you that the committed Government remains
policy
firm
fair
immigration control.
to a
of
but
A F Bedford
Hong Kong Department