the new Law is part of a measure
to relieve the British from
the
pressure of 2.5
million Chinese British Subjects,
regardless of what
3
terms are used.
On the other hand, the Chinese position is also very clear, and
determined too. In the past, it had never recognized the validation of
Chinese in Hong Kong as British Subjects. This attitude is strong and
it has been spelled out on many occasions in many ways. То
China, all Hong Kong Chinese are compatriots of China, no matter whether
persistent;
British subject or not.
Despite the British and the Chinese positions, Hong
Hong Kong Chinese
British Subjects formed strong opinions on the subject:
i.e. they are
and Miss L.
not willing to accept either the position of China or of the British.
Their opinion was strongly aired by their leaders, Sir Sze-yuen Chung
Dunn, of the Hong Kong Executive and Legislative Councils.
Before the results of
the Sino-British agreement became public, the
issue of their future nationality quickly heated up, and became the most
outstanding problem of all concerned. A lot of anger was generated
during the two years of Sino-British negotiations. Although their
strategy of protest was not aimed at fighting for the "right of abode"
for BDTC of Hong Kong, yet they made it known that they would not let
the British go without getting some kind of special legal and
nationality status for them from its negotiation with China.
5
This position of Hong Kong Chinese British Subjects put Sino-
British negotiations into a very
position. Without this
difficult
come up with a solution
interruption, Britain and China could have
without much difficulty. In fact, the British have never challenged
China for her non-recognition of Chinese British Subjects of Hong Kong.
On the other hand, due to her non-recognitiion policy, China is far too
pleased to see the British ready to abandon the Chinese British Subjects
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