That
Declaration.
guaranteed
to
of abode in Hong Kong, which is where they say they want to live.
is right
them under the terms of the Joint
Non-ethnic Chinese BDTCs in Hong Kong will,
in Hong Kong will, like other BDTCS, be entitled to acquire BN (0) status. If they do not, or if for some other reason they would become stateless in 1997, they will become British Overseas Citizens (BOC) in 1997. The two subsequent
also become BOCS if generations
they
unpopular
stateless.
may
These
arrangements
are
would
with
otherwise
the
be
ethnic
minorities in Hong Kong. While the issue is now less sensitive than when the Order in Council was made in June, pressure may very well
recur
for HMG to
minorities.
BN(0) Campaign
4.
During the
Ministers
gave
campaign to
grant
British
citizenship
to the
ethnic
Parliamentary
assurances
debates
that HMG
on the
would
Order in Council,
mount
an
recognition of
the
effective
BN (0)
wide secure
international
passport. An equally important objective is to secure at least the
same
of ease
access
to
other countries for
for people holding BN (0)
passports as they now have with BDTC passports.
5. The campaign is now on the point of being launched, after close consultation between FCO departments and the Home Office.
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 120Page 121
Mr Williams, UND
Michail