CONFIDENTIAL
Summary translation of an article by Tong Yuk-hon
in the Ta Kung Pao of 22 December 1989
After
recapitulating
in brief terms
the
7.
announcement by the British Foreign Minister on 20 December regarding the nationality package, Tong made the following points
Wheredity
MA-
-
a) The package leads to new questions like:
Will
those granted BC passport under the package be regarded as Chinese nationals or overseas Chinese from Britain in the future
SAR? Will they enjoy British consular protection? Will they be regarded as permanent residents of the SAR?
Can they
p.
b)
be eligible for top posts in the SARG? The uncertainties will be even greater if the issue of such BC passports
confidentially.
Chinese
The Chinese
is
done
Government has stated clearly
in the Chinese Memorandum passed to the British side five years ago that according to the CNL, all those who hold BDTC
passports are regarded as nationals. automatically
Chinese
Chinese nationals can only
Chinese
lose
their
nationality if they have settled abroad. Will those granted British citizenship without having left Hong Kong be regarded as British nationals by the Chinese Government?
If so,
does this imply that foreign governments can issue foreign nationality to whichever Chinese nationals in the mainland they like, including the fugitives?
CONFIDENTIAL
JALCAZOVAi, si shows.