HONG KONG NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL
NOTES FOR WINDING-UP
CONTINUING GUARANTEES TO NON-ETHNIC CHINESE
B19
Will the Government give an undertaking to the non-ethnic Chinese BDTCS
that their descendants born stateless after the middle of the next century
should be granted British nationality?
LINE TO TAKE
Appreciate honourable members concern, but do not think it appropriate to
give such an undertaking. It would not be proper as a general principle to grant British nationality indefinitely and without restriction to the
descendants of British nationals resident in a foreign country. This would
be contrary to long-standing principles of our nationality law governing the
transmission of our nationality to children born abroad. As I have said,
the Government's proposals provide for a form of British nationality for
descendants of non-ethnic Chinese BDTCs until well into the next century.
I believe this is as far as we can and should reasonably go to safeguard future generations.
I would, however, remind the House that it would be open to a future Home
Secretary to use his discretion to register any minor as a British Overseas
citizen if he thought this appropriate in the special circumstances of any
particular case.
B19