3. WHY DID THE HOME SECRETARY REFUSE
TO SEE THE INDIAN COUNCIL?
Ho are submitting
draft for the PM
He did not. But an immediate meeting could
not be arranged and the Council declined to
see my hon and learned Friend the Minister of
State, with whom they had had a full meeting
earlier in the year. My rt hon Friend the Prime
Minister and my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary
have both written to the Council in recent days
to explain the decision.
4. DOES HMG APPRECIATE THE CONCERN
OVER POSSIBLE STATELESSNESS
AMONG THE NON-ETHNIC CHINESE?
Fully appreciate concerns of minority communities
who are not ethnically Chinese. No question
of any British Dependent Territories citizen
becoming stateless as a result of the Agreement.
Draft Order makes provisions to prevent this
not only for those who are British Dependent
Territories citizens before 1 July 1997, but
also for their children and grandchildren born
on or after that date. Fully in accordance
with our international obligations to relieve
statelessness.
5.
WHAT ABOUT THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT
GENERATIONS WHO WILL BE LEFT
STATELESS?
Government does not consider it right to provide
for British nationality to be transmitted
indefinitely. This would be contrary to long-
established principle of our law. This applies
to British citizenship as much as to British
Overseas citizenship so British citizenship
would not have provided any additional benefit
to future generations. British nationality
is however effectively secured until about the
middle of the next century. The right course
at that time will be for those affected to apply
for Chinese nationality, although they will
not be compelled to do so.
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