ME3AIC (3)
BACKGROUND
Some reports in Hong Kong, in particular one or two articles in Communist-backed Chinese language press organs have suggested that nationality arrangements for the ethnic
minorities are a problem for Britain to solve. These
reports have been quoted by some lobbyists for the Indian
community as justifying granting British citizenship to
these minorities. But these press reports can by no means
be taken as an authoritative Chinese position. The Chinese
have not said formally to us that the Indians and others
are a problem which they look to us to solve before 1997,
although they have had many opportunities to do so. On the
contrary at
at the second meeting of the Joint Liaison Group
in Peking in November last year they confirmed that such
people, provided that they met the legal requirements,
could apply for Chinese nationality and that their
would be considered by the
applications
appropriate authorities. The relevant section of Chinese nationality law which would presumably apply in these cases would be Article 7 which is widely drawn:
"Aliens or stateless persons who are willing to
abide by China's constitution and laws may acquire Chinese nationality on approval of their
applications provided that (1) they are close
relatives of Chinese nationals, (2) they have
settled in China, or (3) they have other
legitimate reasons."
The whole spirit of the Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong with its provisions concerning right of abode and public service implies a welcoming atmosphere for the ethnic minorities. We have every reason to believe that
the Chinese Government will stick to the spirit and the
letter of the Agreement.