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SAKACG (2)
Law are quite clear about this.
Moreover section XIV of
Annex I of the Joint Declaration makes clear that Hong
Kong residents can use passports issued by "the Hong Kong
SAR Government, the PRC or other states". It is therefore
incumbent on the Chinese Government to recognise British
passports after 1997.
What about consular protection?
Line to Take
Some Members have drawn attention to recent statements by
Chinese spoke men on consular protection.
We are
determined to ensure that the interests of British
citizens will be protected to the fullest extent possible
under international law. The Joint Declaration and the
Basic Law both provide that people in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region after 1997 will have the
full protection of the law, including basic human rights,
as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The key question in any case is not the exercise of
consular protection, but whether Hong Kong people are free to come and go as they please, and freedom of movement is guaranteed by the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.
These also provide that Hong Kong people "may use travel
documents issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, or by other competent authorities of the People's Republic of China or of other states".
It is our understanding that the Hong Kong Chinese who
obtain British citizenship under the scheme would have to renounce their Chinese citizenship in order for the Chinese authorities to regard them as foreigners. We shall be discussing this matter with the Chinese in due
course.