statelessness about which you express concern. However, I should add
that in the unlikely event of any British nationals being forced to leave
eise Hong Kong, and having nowhere to go, we have made it clear on several
occasions that we would expect the Government of the day to consider
sympathetically whether to admit such people on a case by case basis
in the light of particular circumstances.
Notwithstanding the provisions outlined above, I recognise that this
remains a matter of considerable concern in Hong Kong, and, as you will
know, the Government has been asked to give further consideration to
the possibility of granting British citizenship to non-Chinese ethnic
BDTCS in Hong Kong. We will be considering this issue very carefully
before deciding on the final form of the Order which we will lay before
the House.