ME2ANE(2)
Background
General
Nationality
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
Hong Kong people
there
are
in
were
concerned
and
a
At present,
the territory three
quarter million British Dependent Territories Citizens (BDTC), nearly all of them ethnically Chinese. The question of nationality is a sensitive future one in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's During the negotiations on
not to lose their British
The Chinese nationality as a result of the transfer of sovereignty. Government regard all ethnic Chinese residents of Hong Kong, whether
not, or
Chinese nationality law does as Chinese nationals. not permit dual nationality. In an exchange of memoranda associated with the Joint Declaration it has been agreed between the British and Chinese Governments that BDTCs in Hong Kong may continue to use British passports after 1997, but not with BDTC status.
BDTCS
2.
An Order in Council to implement the UK Memorandum was made on cease to 5 June 1986. Under its provisions Hong Kong BDTCs will have BDTC status on 1 July 1997. They will, however, be able to acquire before that date a new nationality status known as British National (Overseas) (BN(0)). This status will carry rights similar
be transmissible will not it to those of
but BDTC status subsequent generations (a point which the Chinese were not prepared status of BN (0) will be issued to concede). Passports in the new
from 1 July 1987.
to
3.
The
most
sensitive
element
in these
arrangements
is the
position of 11,500 BDTCs in Hong Kong who are not ethnically Chinese (most are Indians). This group asked Her Majesty's Government to After careful consideration HMG grant them British citizenship.
(There was concluded it would not be right to grant this request.
and Home Office and FCO officials some tough bargaining between
and two between Mr Renton and Mr Waddington about this request,
Secretaries of State became involved,
others which
were met.
and
the matter went to OD(K).) The rationale for the decision was that British citizenship would not give the ethnic minorities the right