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nationality but who have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a
continuous period of no less than 7 years and have taken Hong Kong
as their place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR" shall have the right of abode in
Hong Kong. As the law stands at present only ethnic Chinese BDTCS/BNOS enjoy the right of abode in Hong Kong. The
Immigration Ordinance was amended in 1987 to give effect to
facilitate the introduction of permanent ID cards along with the
new BN (O) passports from July 1987. However, the Hong Kong
Government have made clear that the Immigration Ordinance 1987 will
have to be further amended in order to give right of abode to the
ethnic minorities and others who meet the relevant criteria in the
Basic Law.
4. Mr Sital is likely to rehearse the call for the non-ethnic Chinese minority to British citizenship, particularly in the light
of recent events in China. The Foreign Affairs Committee, to which
the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations gave evidence, has
recommended that the ethnic minorities should be given British
citizenship. At present our proposed nationality scheme does not envisage making any special provision for the ethnic minorities,
but they would be eligible to apply for assurances under the normal
rules of the scheme.
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